Urban Diplomacy: Theory, Practice And Future

City is the habitat of human beings, in addition to the production, trade, entertainment functions, it becomes a trend that more and more people choose city as a platform to express their political aspirations. With the further development of globalization, the city participates in the international communication even more profound, today it has become an indispensable actor of international exchanges. Research on city actor is not only a theoretical issue, but also a realistic one. However, the current research for the city’s foreign relations is not thorough and comprehensive, especially on the city diplomacy whether involved in the security and political aspects or not. The city is part of the national administrative institutions, as the most grass-roots governor, city can be conveyed to public opinion, promote economic prosperity, can participate in international affairs through the city network. The legitimacy of international behavior of the city, derived from decentralization of state power and citizen’s demands of jurisdiction. City diplomacy is not to replace the central position of national diplomacy, but is at different levels, and in the face of different objects, to supplement and support the national diplomacy. It also does not occur from nowhere, but there’s certain some historical basis. In the ancient city-state period, city is the center of wealth, personnel, military defense and political management. It has the function of foreign communication. The revival of present city diplomacy benefits from the development of globalization and global governance theory. Through direct communication, forming twin city, join international organizations, city take part in international communications. City is also closely related to human security, building peace and conflict prevention is one of the most important tasks to city. The abolition of nuclear weapons is the appeal and target to Mayors for peace. To create a nuclear free world, the organization aims to form a global opinion consensus through the calling for a ban on nuclear testing, spreading peace culture, cooperating with other international organization. However, the city does not have independent legal personality in international society. Squeezed by state diplomacy, it is difficult to form a wide and deep influence for city. Moreover, limited by its resource endowment, city diplomacy in the field of high politics has little effect. Therefore in the future, city diplomacy neither rises to equal the national status, nor to disappear, but will continue to support the national diplomacy in the diplomatic arena.