Marine economy and urban development

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Exploring Asia-Pacific’s Potencies: Marine Economy and Urban Development

Bernadia I. Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, announcing draft of action agenda to participants of the Symposium on Marine Economy and Urban Development, November 9, 2017.

UCLG ASPAC has made good use of the opportunity in its bi-annual Executive Bureau and Council Meeting 2017. Facilitated by Fuzhou City Government, UCLG ASPAC advocates to all of its members, to understand the vital role of marine economy and urban development for the region.

Supporting this were the following actions: held the first meeting of two related Committees, 21st Century Maritime Cooperation and The Belt and Road Local Cooperation, Symposium on Marine Economy and Urban Development, and drafted the action agenda. To enrich the content of the meeting, UCLG ASPAC also held a meeting of the Women in Local Government Standing Committee and wrapped it up on the Executive Bureau and Council Meeting; all conducted within November 8-10, 2017 in Fuzhou, China.

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Kick-Off Meeting of Two Committees and Symposium on Marine Economy and Urban Development

Distinguished leaders and representatives enthusiastically listening to the presentation about st vision and agenda of 21 Century Maritime Cooperation Committee and Belt and Road Committee

Welcoming the Symposium on Marine Economy and Urban Development, two newly established Committees, The Belt and Road Local Cooperation and the 21st Century Maritime Cooperation held their first meetings on November 8, 2017. The meetings were aimed at delivering the vision, mission, and work plan of the respective Committee; while the leading city of each Committee uniquely designed each meeting to invite city delegates to join.

Meeting of The Belt and Road Local Cooperation Committee was held by firstly introducing the work plan of the Committee. It was then followed by various stakeholders that enriched the Committee: academicians (represented by Zhejiang University), private sectors (Alibaba Group and BMW China), and also international organizations (World Association of Major Metropolises and UCLG ASPAC). Participants were enlightened by the knowledge dissemination presented by each figure. It was an eye-opening experience for the participants to know the extensive potential collaboration the Committee could bring.

Mayor You Mengjun of Fuzhou delivered remarks on the opening ceremony of the Symposium on “Marine Economy and Urban Development”.

The 21st Century Maritime Cooperation Committee dedicated their first meeting and gave the stage to cities within Asia-Pacific to expose their various policies and strategies applied. It identified their smart practices from the very beginning, building solid foundation to further cultivate collaboration.

The Committee also plan to extend its collaboration and partnership to local governments in Asia-Pacific and even beyond, academicians, and also experts to enrich the Committee.

At the end of the meeting, both Committees agreed to hold their first General Assemblies in 2018, an important step to cultivate possible mutual cooperation. Starting it up, experts were invited to deliver remarks in the Symposium on Marine Economy and Urban Development.

Mr. Alfred Nakatsuma (Development Diplomat in Residence) and Ms. Wang Xiaohui (Chief Engineer of National Marine Information Center of China) enlightened attendees with understanding, threats, and opportunities of developing the so-called Blue Economy in the region.

From the speakers, attendees were enlightened that sustainability lies at heart of the blue economic models to be able to continue; otherwise, “they will

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crash, many have crashed and many more will crash,� said Mr. Nakatsuma; presenting the other practices of blue economy applied by other organizations, such as EU, World Bank, and OECD. Representing Fuzhou as the host, Ms. Wang Xiaohui (Chief Engineer of National Marine Information Center of China) explored conditions for building the ocean center cities and how Fuzhou set its strategic positioning to be able to meet the requirements; leaving the audience with knowledge about what the leading city of 21st Century of Maritime Cooperation will do and target.

The symposium also injected broader understanding of marine potencies within Asia-Pacific region. Cities with abundant potential were invited to expose their strategies and practices: Malacca, Jakarta, and Trenggalek.

The symposium gave birth to the drafting of action agenda that was distributed to all members to gain inputs. Based on the inputs received, the draft will be improved and the final version will be distributed to all members in the next Executive Bureau Meeting in 2018.

Women in Local Governments Standing Committee Meeting

Participants of Women in Local Governments Standing Committee meeting standing together for equality of women in public affairs.

Around 30 distinguished representatives of various cities in Asia-Pacific attended the meeting. They shared the best practices as well as aspirations for the equality of women in public affairs. To achieve the 20% quota of women in UCLG ASPAC Presidency and Governing Body, related and

supporting smart practices were proposed to be produced and National League of Commune/Sangkats (Cambodia) offered its support to compile smart practices and plan to distribute the publication at the 7th UCLG ASPAC Congress in Surabaya.

The Second Session of Executive Bureau and Council Meeting 2017

The last session of Executive Bureau and Council Meeting 2017; where initiatives came up and made the wrap for this year.

It was the second session in 2017 and it closed the year very nicely. A total of 100 participants attended the meeting and the discussion ran very smoothly.

A number of initiatives appeared and aimed at strengthening the capacity of and supporting local government in delivering services to locals. Among many, the initiatives included participation of an online training developed by the Local Government of New Zealand. Local government of Gyeonggi also impressed delegates in arranging a workshop to encourage youth to develop their entrepreneurship skills based on technology; through ‘The Global StartUp Platform.’

Chaired by Won Heeryong, President of UCLG ASPAC and Governor of Jeju Self-Governing Province, Executive Bureau and Council Meeting also welcomed 12 new members: Bengkulu, Addu City Council, Local Councils Association of the Balochistan (LCAB), Huvadhoo Aid, Kirtipur Municipality, Lubuk Linggau City, Vyas Municipality, Baguio City, Philippine Councilors League, Xiamen City, Jinan City, and Yiwu City. The meeting also confirmed the host of the next Executive Bureau and Council Meeting 2018 is Pakistan and the host of the 7th Congress is Surabaya.

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UCLG ASPAC would like to thank Local Government of Fuzhou for hosting the second session of Executive bureau and Council Meeting 2017. Their warm hospitality and professional arrangement made the meeting a successful and memorable one.