Mayor Natalia Chueca signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese city of Weihai at the “Exquisite City Forum,” reinforcing Zaragoza’s international projection and consolidating its ties with some of the most prosperous regions of the Asian giant.
Zaragoza continues to strengthen its international positioning as an open, innovative city with a global vision. The mayor Natalia Chueca has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese city of Weihai, during an institutional event held at the Exquisite City Forum, organized by the United Nations and the municipal government of the Asian city. The agreement involves the joint development of projects in the areas of economic, commercial, cultural, tourism, and sports.
With this signing, Zaragoza strengthens ties with a city of 2.9 million inhabitants, located on the eastern coast of China, with a rapidly diversifying economy. Weihai thus becomes the fourth Chinese city with which Zaragoza establishes this type of strategic alliance, following previous agreements with Nanjin (2022), Jiaxing (June 2023), and Lishui (October 2023).
Real cooperation, shared opportunities
The Memorandum commits both cities to promote bilateral trade missions, partnerships between educational and cultural institutions, the organization of joint sports events —including soccer, swimming, and triathlon—, as well as professional training for athletes and the exchange of best practices in urban sustainability.
One of the key points will be the creation of a joint coordination committee, composed of representatives from both cities, international experts, and business leaders, tasked with evaluating and activating projects of common interest.
During her official visit, Chueca held initial meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Yan Jianbo, secretary of the Municipal Committee of Weihai; Kong Fanping, mayor of the city; and other heads of key areas such as urban planning, commerce, and foreign relations.
A consolidated international strategy
This alliance with Weihai responds to a sustained line of action by the Zaragoza City Council in recent years, based on municipal diplomacy, international cooperation, and attracting foreign investment. The combined GDP of the Chinese cities with which Zaragoza has signed agreements exceeds 380 billion euros, greatly expanding opportunities for business and technological collaboration.
The agreement with Weihai not only opens doors for Aragonese companies interested in entering the Asian market but also attracts the interest of investors, institutions, and international networks seeking cities with economic potential, institutional stability, and capacity for collaboration.
