Pedro Duarte presents Porto’s vision for urban well-being, mobility and sustainability in Tokyo

05/05/2026

The Mayor of Porto, Pedro Duarte, was in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 and 28 April, where he was invited to take part in the conference “SusHi Tech Tokyo – G-NETS Leaders Summit”, which brought together around 50 city leaders from across the world. In various sessions, the mayor presented concrete examples of the municipality’s strategy in the areas of mobility, sustainability and urban well-being.

In line with the themes under discussion – “Urban Resilience to Climate Change and Natural Disasters” and “Well-being in Cities” – the Mayor of Porto outlined a number of policies being developed by Porto City Council to build a more sustainable, resilient city focused on quality of life.

In one of the sessions, alongside leaders from other global cities, Pedro Duarte highlighted the commitment to transforming the mobility paradigm in Porto, explaining that the municipality is promoting this shift through initiatives such as free public transport for residents, which is currently in the implementation phase.

“Mobility is about access: access to work, education, culture, public services, community life and the opportunities the city has to offer. It is a matter of social inclusion,” stressed Pedro Duarte. However, he emphasised that free public transport for residents should not be seen as a standalone measure, but as part of a broader transformation in how Porto intends to organise mobility, public space and urban life.

As part of his participation in the G-NETS Leaders Summit, Pedro Duarte also delivered the presentation “Advancing Well-being in Porto: Culture, Community and Public Space”, through which he shared Porto’s vision for urban well-being.

In his presentation, the Mayor argued that people’s well-being is closely linked to culture, community life and the quality of public space. In this context, he highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening a sense of belonging and encouraging a more shared experience of the city, such as the “Porto na Praça” programme, which promotes pedestrianisation, and the international literary event “Babell”, which, in June this year, will bring books out into the streets.

The Mayor of Porto’s visit to Tokyo also provided an opportunity to meet with Portugal’s Ambassador to Japan, Gilberto Jerónimo.

The “SusHi Tech Tokyo” conference is a platform for envisioning and debating the future of major cities through the contribution of political leaders. This year, the G-NETS Leaders Summit focused on the theme “A New Urban Future built on Climate and Disaster Resilience”, setting the stage for discussion on how leaders are preparing to address major climate challenges.