October 15-18, 2025 | Xi’an – UCLG ASPAC active member, Xi’an brought Asia-Pacific region into spotlight by hosting the UCLG World Council Meeting 2025 “Shaping Communities for Current and Future Generations”, conducted in collaboration with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and in conjunction with the 10th anniversary special event of the UNIDO ‘Bridge of Cities’ initiative. This event also marked the beginning of Asia-Pacific leadership on the UCLG World Presidency through the inauguration of Mayor Lee Jang-woo of Daejeon Metropolitan City, South Korea, as the new UCLG World President. Mayor Lee is the first President of UCLG World from the Asia-Pacific section.
Mayor Lee, in his speech, emphasised the critical role of cooperation within UCLG for fostering sustainable urban development and underscored the significance of the Daejeon Declaration, which prioritises care in policy-making. He highlighted the necessity of harnessing advanced technologies, such as AI, for the collective benefit of society and reaffirmed Daejeon’s commitment to being a “Science City for Citizens.” Mayor Lee also shared his vision for upcoming strategic milestones, including the 8th UCLG Congress in 2026, expressing his dedication to ensuring its success while preparing for the upcoming leadership transition. He concluded by extending gratitude to the Mayor of Xi’an and the city officials for organising the successful council meeting and called for continued support in his presidential duties.
During the Executive Bureau Meeting on October 16, Secretary General Bernadia also addressed Ecological Transition and Loss and Damage. UCLG ASPAC highlighted the need for the formal inclusion of local and regional governments (LRGs) in climate exchange mechanisms. She strongly recommended permanent observer status in the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). She also pushed forward to ensure LRG access to the Fund. “If this Fund is to be different from the others and hopes to live up to its bottom-up approach, LRG access is key,” she said.
Aligning Regional Vision with a New Global Leadership
In the Asia-Pacific Caucus Meeting, UCLG ASPAC Manifesto 2026-2030 was formally introduced to more than 50 delegates from ASPAC member cities (China, Japan, and South Korea), UCLG sections (Europe, Eurasia, MEWA, Latin America), and the UCLG World Secretariat. The Manifesto covers the areas where UCLG ASPAC will take stronger leadership as an organisation for 2026-2030. These are Economic Revitalisation, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Climate Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Gender Equality.
This moment was also used to share the vision of the new UCLG World President, Mayor Lee Jang-woo, as presented by Ambassador Youngkyu Park of Daejeon, which will focus on citizen-centred digital transformation, leveraging advanced technologies like AI for public good.
Vice Mayor of Haikou, Mr Han Bin, in his intervention, invited participants to the UCLG ASPAC Council Meeting to be hosted by Haikou in autumn 2026.
ASPAC cities also demonstrated their presence throughout the UCLG Council Meeting 2025. Governor Yasutomo Suzuki of Shizuoka Province, in his speech, shared his province’s focus on local governance, climate resilience, and regional development. Mr. Lu Xiangdong of CPAFFC emphasised the organisation’s effort on youth-related themes and invited UCLG members to the International Sister Cities Conference in Xi’an in September 2026. Mr. Deng Changxiong from Guangzhou promoted the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation.
During the Council, a series of high-level bilateral meetings took place to explore opportunities for cooperation with members in advancing more resilient and effective cities and local governments throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Exploring Xi’an: A Fusion of Heritage and Innovation
Site visits to the Xi’an Solid Waste Incineration Cogeneration Project and LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. showcased the city’s commitment to sustainable energy, while tours of the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and the Terra Cotta Warriors illustrated the profound theme of building for both the present and future generations.
Key Takeaways and Future Directions
The 2025 UCLG World Council in Xi’an marked a defining milestone for UCLG ASPAC as a region and organisation. Not only did the event mark the beginning of ASPAC leadership in the World organisation, but also the refreshment of the organisation’s pathway for the next five years.
As we look ahead to the UCLG World Congress 2026 in Tangier, Morocco, UCLG ASPAC stands ready to build on this momentum. Our focus remains clear: advancing climate action, accelerating digital transformation, and promoting inclusive governance. Together, we will continue to ensure that the voices and innovations of Asia-Pacific cities and local governments inspire and help shape the global urban agenda.
