Jordi Valls
Barcelona is looking forward to expanding the scope of the memorandum of understanding with Shenzhen to further their shared goals as sister cities, said Jordi Valls, deputy mayor of Barcelona.
As Shenzhen and Barcelona mark the third anniversary of their sister city relationship, the fruits of their exchanges and collaboration are evident in the realms of business, technology, and innovation, according to Valls.
Now, the partnership has evolved to focus on fostering a deeper understanding between the two cities and their cultures and using technology to enhance city management and the quality of life for their citizens, the deputy mayor of Barcelona said.
"For us the most important focus is not only in business, but at the same time to understand each other better and how the cities can collaborate in order to improve the quality of life for their citizens," Valls told Shenzhen Daily during an exclusive interview yesterday.
"The two cities are not only exchanging information as sister cities. I hope we expand the scope of the memorandum of understanding," said Valls.
According to Valls, Shenzhen, renowned for its technological prowess, has been a key player in introducing technology to improve city management, particularly in areas such as mobility, civil protection, and environmental sustainability.
Barcelona, also an innovation-driven city, has provided a platform for Chinese companies to showcase their technological products in Europe. Important tech events like the Mobile World Congress and the Integrated Systems Europe exhibition have been instrumental in this regard, serving as a platform for Chinese innovation on the global stage.
The partnership has also seen the expansion of cooperation into new sectors, including commercial displays, energy, decarbonization, and electric mobility.
"The rate of electric car adoption in Shenzhen is notably higher than in Europe," said Valls, who believes that this reflects the city's commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
According to Valls, Barcelona is willing to play an active part in the World Innovative Cities Cooperation Organization (WICCO), an international organization initiated and established by Shenzhen.
"What we want to do in this organization is to share information and projects that enhance the quality of life for citizens worldwide," he said.
Valls, the former president of the Barcelona Port Authority, said he first visited Shenzhen 15 years ago and was excited about this trip.
"I had a strong interest in visiting Shenzhen 15 years ago, more specifically the port of Shenzhen," Valls said, adding that he is impressed that the port handles over 30 million TEUs now, a stark contrast to Barcelona port's 4 million TEUs.
Looking to the future, Valls believes that Shenzhen and Barcelona are poised to continue their cooperation in logistics, trade, technology, and energy.
The close connection between Shenzhen and Barcelona began in 2012 when the two cities established friendly exchange relations. In 2017, Barcelona's then deputy mayor and current mayor Jaume Collboni visited Shenzhen.
In 2021, the two cities became sister cities. In 2023, Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong visited Barcelona.