Many of us working in the cultural world have a great affection for Shanghai — a city that shares so much in common with Hong Kong. Both are vibrant hubs for East-meets-West cultural exchanges, with a truly international outlook. Each city has a rich and diverse heritage that fosters the development of the arts and creative industries. And both are home to sophisticated audiences that are always looking for fresh and innovative cultural experiences.

Culture lovers in Shanghai will certainly have more to look forward to than usual this month as some of the best productions, exhibitions and performers from the vibrant Hong Kong arts scene arrive in the city as part of the “2025 WestK Shanghai Week”. Organized by the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK), this event marks an important step in WestK’s mission to help Hong Kong’s unique cultural programs “go global”.

There is a simple reason why we have chosen Shanghai for the first major WestK venture outside Hong Kong, and it’s all about the connections the two cities share. I have had the pleasure of experiencing these connections firsthand in the buildup to WestK Shanghai Week, and my love of Shanghai has deepened further after numerous trips to meet with the different partners who are helping to make this exciting cultural program happen.

Similar to Hong Kong, Shanghai is experiencing a cultural surge that can be felt in every corner of the city’s fabric. Whether it’s visiting the countless arts venues and galleries, or simply sitting in a chilled-out coffee shop — as I’ve happily done on numerous occasions recently — it’s clear that arts and culture resonate with the people there. So it’s not surprising that WestK Shanghai Week is already having a big impact even before the main body of the program gets underway.

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The best of Hong Kong will be on show in Shanghai this week. Highlighted programs of WestK Shanghai Week include the Chinese mainland debut of the original Cantonese musical The Impossible Trial, which was a great hit in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s staging of the City Rhythms: Chinese Traditional Culture Reinterpreted exhibition in Zhangyuan. There will also be a string of xiqu, jazz and contemporary dance performances by top Hong Kong artistic talents.

The response from the Shanghai public so far has exceeded our expectations. The M+ exhibition IM Pei: Life Is Architecture, which opened at the Power Station of Art in April, building up to the main body of WestK Shanghai Week, was very popular. And The Impossible Trial has also proved a huge draw, with more than 80 percent of tickets sold and more shows added.

This is exciting and encouraging for all of us involved in Hong Kong’s arts scene and is a testament to the incredible talent and creative vision of our city’s artists and performers. More than 100 arts and culture practitioners — including artists, musicians, curators, designers, and more — are travelling from Hong Kong to Shanghai for the various WestK Shanghai Week programs, creating opportunities for collaboration, dialogue and innovation and building deeper cultural connections between the two cities.

This new level of cooperation is a win-win outcome in every sense. WestK Shanghai Week has resulted in exciting collaborations with supportive partners in Shanghai ranging from cultural institutions to Hong Kong developers operating in the city, and even a popular local coffee chain. Lasting friendships are being forged, and Hong Kong’s position as an important player on the global arts and culture stage is being further reinforced.

This has significant implications for the future of WestK and Hong Kong’s position as a cultural hub with global appeal. In a world that is increasingly competitive, and where cities are vying for talent and attractions, the power of an internationally respected cultural hub should not be underestimated. WestK has reached a critical stage in its mission to develop such a cultural hub — one that is not only self-sustaining but can also earn international respect.

Strengthening global exchanges will be key to making WestK stand out from the crowd, and we are delighted to begin this journey in partnership with kindred spirits in Shanghai.

The time I’ve spent in Shanghai recently, and the friendships I’ve forged with various cultural players there, confirms that we made the right choice for WestK’s first large-scale “departure” outside Hong Kong. This has been underpinned by the enthusiastic response from leading Shanghai cultural institutions and artists and the strong support provided by the relevant authorities, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, the Shanghai Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office.

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WestK Shanghai Week provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the cultural base of these two great cities and sets the stage for further collaborations down the line and a new era of cooperation that can further strengthen these two cultural hubs in China and offer fresh and vital links to the wider cultural world.

The author is the CEO of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.