Launch of the "UCLG ASPAC 2026-2030 Manifesto"
Opening a New Chapter in Asia-Pacific Local Government Cooperation
The opening of the '2025 10th United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific Section (UCLG ASPAC) Goyang General Assembly,' the largest international conference of local governments in the Asia-Pacific region, is now just one day away.
The assembly, which will be held over three days from September 24 to 26 at Exhibition Hall 1 of KINTEX, will bring together approximately 500 participants, including representatives from over 220 local governments across 22 countries, international organizations, and distinguished guests from Korea and abroad. This marks the first time a basic local government is hosting the UCLG ASPAC General Assembly independently, and it is also significant as the tenth edition of the event.
The theme of this year’s assembly is "Sustainable Global Self-Sufficient Cities and Regions for the Future." Key agenda items include job creation, urban growth, youth leadership, energy self-sufficiency, and family-friendly cities. The assembly is set to culminate in the adoption and announcement of the "Goyang Declaration."
The declaration will outline the roles and responsibilities of local governments in addressing global challenges such as geopolitical instability, the climate crisis, and worsening inequality, while also presenting a shared vision for cities in the Asia-Pacific region. Notably, the "UCLG ASPAC 2026-2030 Manifesto" will be officially launched and adopted as a strategic framework to institutionalize the development capacity of local governments.
Specifically, the "Goyang Declaration" proposes five visions: fostering entrepreneurship and the green economy; smart urban planning and climate-resilient infrastructure; institutionalizing youth leadership; expanding the transition to and investment in renewable energy; and creating family-friendly cities. In addition, it calls for cooperation with national governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society, and urges improvements to the international financial system to enable local governments to effectively implement sustainability strategies.
With just one day remaining before the opening of the assembly, the city of Goyang has completed all preparations to welcome delegations from local governments around the world.
A city official stated, "We expect that tomorrow’s assembly will allow us to chart a path toward sustainable cities together."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
