This project explores the evolving strategies of Chinese subnational diplomacy, with a particular focus on city partnerships between Chinese cities and those in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. By analysing the driving forces, key actors, practices, and intercity dynamics within China's urban clusters (城市群), the study highlights the interplay between domestic priorities and international imperatives in shaping China's global diplomatic agenda. The study emphasises that these city-to-city partnerships function as microcosms of broader geopolitical and socio-economic trends, exerting influence on EU-China relations and contributing to the reconfiguration of global governance frameworks. By situating city diplomacy within the context of China's global rise, this project illuminates how subnational cooperation complements and enhances China's state-led diplomatic efforts, offering a nuanced perspective on the intersection of local and global political processes.