Oliver Coppard, mayor of South Yorkshire, United Kingdom, stressed the importance of culture in uniting an increasingly fractured world in harmony and friendship.

"Culture is how we express ourselves and how we bring our communities together in cities," he said. "We must make sure that our city leaders are not taking culture for granted, and that we are actively pursuing culture and providing infrastructure that allows culture to thrive."

Gregor Kosir, mayor of Kocevje, Slovenia, said the city's forest management system is more than 200 years old but still effective, as it was developed with a clear principle of taking from nature only what it can regenerate. This long-term approach, he said, has allowed the city to preserve its forests while creating lasting value.

"In the past, cooperation was sometimes driven by short-term interests without full consideration of long-term balance," Kosir said. "Today, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to build partnerships that are more balanced, more sustainable, and more beneficial for all sides."

The three-day event, which opened on Wednesday, brings together participants from 32 cities in 26 countries and five international organizations.