Promoting urban and subnational diplomacy within a coordinated and synergetic multi-level governance framework is an important way to address global interconnected risks and challenges. Given the different nature, interests and positions of cities, subnational regions, national states and international organizations, their visions and ideas can substantially diverge from each other in some points. In a multi-level governance role play conducted at the Academy of International Affairs NRW’s summer academy “Subnational Diplomacy: Shaping Global Affairs” in June 2025 in Bonn, hypothetical common positions between the four governance levels were explored. Four courses of action as well as key factors for promoting a coordinated and coherent multi-level governance approach to subnational diplomacy have been identified. Central to those are the establishment of training and policy coordination formats that can be important first steps to further institutionalize subnational diplomacy. A bolstered role of regions seems central to the functioning of a multi-level governance framework. Given their intermediary position they seem to be accepted interlocutors for all other governance levels examined – cities, states and international organizations – when it comes to international diplomatic action.