Editor's note: The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 31 and November 1. CGTN's "APEC Stories" series will showcase cooperation and culture of 21 APEC economies through visual storytelling.

Shanghai, a global metropolis in eastern China, and Busan, South Korea's leading port city, have shared sister-city ties since November 1993. Over the past three decades, their partnership has deepened through extensive exchanges in economy, trade, technology and culture, setting an example of local-level cooperation between the two countries.

During the Busan mayor's visit to Shanghai in September, the two cities agreed to further strengthen collaboration in key areas such as investment, education and innovation. As major port cities in East Asia, Shanghai and Busan also work closely on port operations, technical exchanges and green shipping, jointly promoting regional connectivity and sustainable development.

Cultural exchange remains vibrant. The Shanghai Film Festival in Busan 2024 was inaugurated on March 30 at CGV Cinemas in Busan. Featuring five Chinese films, the event showcased the creativity of China's new-generation directors to South Korean audiences and underscored the growing potential for collaboration between the two cities in the film industry.