UCLG-ASPAC Conference Yields Eight Points Of Agreement

Wangiwangi, C Sulawesi (Antara Bali) - Themed "Asia-Pacific Local Government Voices towards Habitat III on a New Urban Agenda," the three-day United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) conference in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, concluded with eight points of agreement.

Secretary General of UCLG-ASPAC Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi read out the eight points of agreement while closing the conference on Sunday night.

"The eight points of agreement are part of a joint commitment reached by all regional heads in the Asia-Pacific region, participating in the conference, to be presented at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) conference in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2015," Bernadia remarked.

The UN-HABITAT is the United Nations agency that has been mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.

She noted that the regional heads in the Asia-Pacific region who participated in the UCLG-ASPAC conference declared that they will run a clean government, address urban problems in a sustainable manner, create a low-carbon society, provide a viable city environment for the people, invest in infrastructure and human resources, reform the structural position, mobilize local resources, and make preparations for disasters.

"All points of this agreement will be the voice of the Asia-Pacific region in various negotiations towards the Habitat III conference in Ecuador in 2016," she remarked.

The UCLG-ASPAC meeting included 176 regional heads from Asia-Pacific countries, including Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, Mayor of Guangzhou Cai Chaolin, Deputy Mayor of Kazan Ivan Kuznetsov, and Mayor of Katbalogan Stephany Uy-Than.

Wakatobi District Head Hugua expressed hope that by hosting the UCLG-ASPAC meeting, Wakatobi would gain greater worldwide recognition, since the participants of the meeting comprised mayors and district heads from Asia-Pacific countries.

Hugua noted that the regional heads will encourage the development of communities without disturbing the environmental balance.

"Disturbing the environmental balance for a development activity would be too steep a price to pay as it would lead to disaster after disaster that may inflict material losses and even cause fatalities," he pointed out.  (WDY)