Saint Petersburg's participation in the recent World Mayors Dialogue · SCO Cities Summit in Tianjin underscores a meaningful step toward enhancing ties between the city and its Chinese counterparts within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russian officials said.

More than 100 officials, scholars, and entrepreneurs hailing from SCO member countries gathered in Tianjin for the summit, which opened on Tuesday. Dmitrii Aplesnin, head of the Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Department of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, attended the summit despite a 60-hour journey encumbered by flight disruptions.

"This forum held before the upcoming SCO Summit in the autumn is certainly very important. St. Petersburg won't miss this event and hopes to promote mutual understanding and foster more cooperation with Chinese cities and cities of other SCO member countries," he said.