December 2-3, 2022 | UCLG ASPAC as the host of the ASEAN Mayors Forum collaborated with the Phnom Penh Capital Administration, organised the 2022 ASEAN Mayors Forum (AMF) at the Sokha Hotel, Phnom Penh. As the first offline event since the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 AMF elaborated on the theme ASEAN A.C.T.: Addressing Challenges Together: “Strengthening ASEAN Collaboration through Accelerating the Implementation of Smart, Resilient, and Sustainable Cities for Transformative Urban Living in the New Normal”; which is in line with Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship. This was also the first time; the ASEAN Mayors Forum was held together with the Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC).
More than three hundred mayors, governors, representatives from ASEAN cities and local governments and regional partners participated in the forum with a common goal: strengthened cooperation among ASEAN cities.
The Prime Minister of Cambodia, His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, inaugurated the AMF. He acknowledged that cities are the hearts of countries and regions and that building smart and green cities with the use of digital technology is the accurate direction for the present and future.
Prime Minister Hun Sen recommended the following to build and connect ASEAN cities: 1) ensure peace, security, stability and prosperity; 2) improve living qualities of the people in terms of well-being, prosperity, and resilience; 3) involve all stakeholders including local governments, private sector, development partners, national and international institutions, especially local people; 4) jointly promote digitalisation; and 5) promote the culture of exchanging knowledge and sharing experiences in building smart cities. This is the first time that the head of government participated in the AMF.
The Governor of Phnom Penh, Mr. Khuong Sreng, in his opening message, remarked that ASEAN cities face very similar challenges and there is a need to think the strategic responses to create a city that is not only resilient but sustainable and smart. Governor Khuong Sreng stated that “cooperation through sharing of knowledge and experience is more important than ever so we can achieve growth and prosperity for all cities in the region.” He strongly hoped that the Southeast Asian region, whether at national or subnational levels, will continue to expand the level of cooperation.
In cooperation with UN agencies and partners, various roundtable discussions were held on the following priority areas for ASEAN cities: sustainable finance, digital governance, localising the SDGs, ASEAN sustainable urbanisation, and urban climate resilience and disaster risk reduction in ASEAN. The ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Report was also launched by UN-Habitat during the AMF.
The 2022 AMF concluded with the adoption of two outcome documents: the Phnom Penh Declaration (CLICK HERE) for the AMF and the MGMAC which will be submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat.
Next, UCLG ASPAC/AMF Secretariat, in collaboration with the future host city of AMF (in Indonesia), will hold the AMF 2023 aligned with the theme of Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.
