On June 30, 2026, New York time, the launch ceremony and New York Forum for OUR WATER Season 3 were held at Bloomberg Headquarters in New York, focusing on the theme "Rivers of Opportunities." The event brought together over 200 guests from political, business, finance, and cultural sectors of China and the United States, including Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Tang Zhiwen, Minister of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States.
The forum explored the openness and similarities between Shanghai and New York, identifying a shared framework of certainties among global hub cities. Both cities share distinct advantages in finance and trade while facing common challenges in urban renewal, low-carbon development, and digital transformation. Candid dialogue is essential for mutual learning and is expected to inject stability into China-U.S. relations, as stated in the forum's discussions.
A panel titled "Investing in China, Winning the Future" featured Chinese and international guests discussing how the appeal of Chinese assets is shifting from traditional growth narratives to AI, high-end manufacturing, financial opening-up, and institutional market development. Shanghai, as a hub for financial opening-up and asset allocation, has become a crucial gateway linking international capital with opportunities in China. This matters because it signals continued foreign investor interest despite geopolitical tensions, potentially boosting cross-border capital flows.
Another panel, "Opportunities in Emerging Consumer Markets," moderated by Bloomberg Television host David Westin, observed that consumer vitality in Shanghai and New York stems from their ability to create experiences, understand people, and activate urban spaces. This focus on consumption underscores the dynamic nature of bilateral economic ties, with implications for global consumer trends and urban development strategies.
Beyond the forum, the New York series of events for OUR WATER Season 3 includes cultural exhibitions such as "West Meets East·Shanghai & New York 2026 - A Polaroid 20×24 Special Exhibition" and "Chinese Opera: A Century of Dreams - An Exhibition of Art Design and Technology." These events shape a tangible waterfront narrative, allowing the two super metropolises to resonate through dialogue. As Minister Tang Zhiwen noted in his address, Shanghai and New York are expected to become benchmarks for subnational cooperation between China and the United States, contributing to a "constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability." This announcement is significant as it provides a concrete framework for collaboration at the local level, potentially influencing policy and business decisions in both countries.
