City Diplomacy in Action
Against the backdrop of a turbulent international environment and global transformation, local initiatives and ties – especially at the municipal level – are becoming increasingly important. As the capital of Russia and one of Europe’s largest cities, Moscow is actively developing international cooperation with foreign partners.
Moscow has long‑standing partnership relations with a number of megacities, including Beijing, New Delhi, Ankara, Tashkent, Astana, and many others. China is Moscow’s largest foreign trade partner, accounting for 33.5% of total trade turnover in the first quarter of 2025. The partnership with Beijing was reaffirmed by a new cooperation agreement for 2026‑2028, signed during Moscow Days in the Chinese capital. More than 300 Chinese companies operate in Moscow, and direct investment from China exceeds $2 billion.
The current stage of international relations requires a rethinking of traditional approaches to interaction. City diplomacy is becoming a key tool for building trust and mutual understanding between states. This strategy helps address practical issues in culture, education, science, the economy, and ecology, creating conditions for sustainable territorial development.
Russia’s capital maintains ongoing partnerships with more than 140 foreign cities and regions, with over 250 bilateral documents signed to formalize cooperation intentions. Over the past year, Moscow signed ten new agreements and programs and extended existing arrangements with cities such as Vientiane (Lao PDR), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Beijing’s Changping District, Zhengzhou (PRC), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Ankara (Turkey), Belgrade (Serbia), Havana (Cuba), as well as with several international organizations.
Between 2024 and 2025, the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow implemented dozens of major projects and visits. In March 2024, a memorandum was signed between Moscow and Shenzhen covering cooperation in digitalization, smart transport, and urban planning. Visits to Havana, Mexico City, Cairo, and Astana laid the groundwork for expanding ties in tourism, medicine, urban development, and sustainable development.
Moscow also participated in several major international events. In April 2025, the capital presented its digital solutions at GITEX Asia in Singapore – from biometric systems and smart utilities to educational IT platforms. The speech by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, focused on Moscow’s experience in sustainable urban development and digitalization.
Cultural exchanges and humanitarian initiatives continue to play an important role. Festivals of the arts, art exhibitions, and educational events are held annually in partner countries, helping to build cultural bridges between Moscow and its partners.
Moscow is actively engaged in the global green agenda: electric bus routes have been launched, energy‑efficient buildings are being constructed, and the waste management system is being modernized. The city shares its experience in managing public green spaces, environmental education, and digital emissions monitoring with foreign colleagues.
City diplomacy has several strategic advantages. Its key strengths – flexibility and adaptability – allow it to respond quickly to changes in the international environment. This mobility helps forge strong horizontal ties between cities, laying the foundation for productive cooperation and enhancing the image of both the capital and the country as an open and reliable partner.
Through city diplomacy, Russia’s capital is building a new model of interaction – flexible, pragmatic, and results‑oriented. This consistent international engagement helps strengthen the Russian state’s position on the global stage and increases trust and openness between countries and peoples. City diplomacy opens up new opportunities for integration and cooperation, fostering a new type of relationship based on mutually beneficial partnership and respect for the unique characteristics of all participants.