Representatives from seven UNESCO Cities of Music meet in Wuxi on May 15. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

The two-day "Encounter · Enlighten" Wuxi Creative Cities Dialogue commenced in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on May 15.

This event welcomed representatives from international organizations such as UNESCO and the United Nations World Tourism Organization, alongside representatives of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network from countries including France, South Korea, Italy, and China.

Participants engaged in discussions on strategies for integrating urban industries and explored innovative pathways for sustainable urban development through cultural creativity.

Denise Bax, secretary of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, shows off a card with her photo during the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

"This gathering is particularly significant as it marks the first major event since Wuxi was designated a UNESCO City of Music in October last year," said Denise Bax, secretary of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, during the opening ceremony. "It holds great importance for the entire Creative Cities Network."

She emphasized that Wuxi could make the most of this event to highlight its cultural and industrial prowess, while member cities could benefit from increased face-to-face dialogue and exchange. She expressed hope that Wuxi would continue to foster opportunities for active dialogue within the network in the future.

Participants show interest in the Chinese folk art of paper-cutting during the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

During the opening ceremony, a global call for music themed around "Wuxi Impressions" was launched, inviting musicians worldwide to narrate Wuxi's story through their compositions.

Following the opening ceremony, a themed dialogue on music co-creation and urban exchange took place. Representatives from seven UNESCO Cities of Music — Evian-les-Bains and Metz in France, Daegu in South Korea, Pesaro in Italy, Ipoh in Malaysia, Essaouira in Morocco, and Wuxi in China — convened to engage in in-depth discussions and share insights on topics such as music industry innovation and the evolution of music in the AI era.