Galloway of Edinburgh Global Limited says it is easy enough to quantify the business benefits in the cities' partnership, but the human relationships that it produces are not so easy to quantify.

He regards those like him involved in this effort "to turn nothing into something" xiongdi and meimei, or brothers and sisters, he says.

Ma Jiangtao, director of the Edinburgh-Shenzhen Creative Exchange and founding director of the Doctorate Association, a nonprofit for scholars and doctoral students worldwide, refers to the way the cities have handled any hiccups they have had in their relationship as true comradeship.

"We always stand by each other, which makes the journey less arduous," he says.

The Doctorate Association International Innovation Centre, founded by Ma, has been operating all Edinburgh-Shenzhen Creative Exchange activities since 2022.

For many, carrying forward this twinning has been a lifelong mission.

"We have worked tirelessly to bring it to fruition," Ma says. "So this relationship must not be reduced to mere formalities. Otherwise, I would feel unworthy of the trust and support of others.

"More importantly, I believe that this relationship holds significance not only for Shenzhen and Edinburgh, but also for Scotland and the broader ties between China and the United Kingdom. We are living in a time of unprecedented global change, but despite the uncertainty, I believe this friendship can play its role. That is why I am willing to dedicate my whole life to this."

McAreavey says a return trip to Shenzhen this year is a certainty. "That is a priority. We've got a number of businesses keen on that. We also look forward to hosting delegations from Shenzhen and introducing businesses in Edinburgh."

She underscores a list of areas in which knowledge-sharing can be further promoted, such as manufacturing, bioscience, healthcare and net zero.

"We want to build on what already exists, and we make commitments to continue. … It is important to continue striving to make meaningful links, keep doors open, allow friendly exchanges and collaboration happen, and work toward a better understanding."

Galloway echoes: "I'm a great admirer of Stephen Hawking, who once discussed how one of the key factors enabling humans to evolve much more quickly is our ability to communicate. As long as we keep talking to each other, we have the opportunity to understand one another."

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