May 22-30, 2023 | UCLG ASPAC Secretary General and Secretariat Team members visited China for the preparation of the 9th UCLG ASPAC Congress. The visit to Yiwu City, the host of the upcoming Congress, explored exciting opportunities to be developed in the Congress. UCLG ASPAC delegates also paid a visit to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Embassy of Indonesia in Beijing to obtain support for the success of the upcoming Congress. During the visit, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General also fulfilled the invitation of Guiyang City and spoke at the Smart City Forum for International Friendship Cities in China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 .
Congress Preparatory Meeting and Support
During the discussion, UCLG ASPAC Secretariat and Yiwu agreed on the topic of the 9th Congress “Advancing Balanced Economic Development for Asia and the Pacific.” Both saw the opportunities to accelerate the efforts of cities and local governments to recover much stronger from the pandemic and plan to create the Congress as a platform for them to directly connect to expedite and advance their economic recovery process.
In addition, cities and local governments can directly learn how Yiwu has transformed to one of the richest modern cities in China and widely known as the World’s Capital of Small Commodities. Currently, UCLG ASPAC and Yiwu are preparing the Congress programme so that cities and local governments will get great exposure to youth entrepreneurship, child friendliness, rural revitalisation, trade promotion, and industrial upgrading. UCLG ASPAC delegates also visited some potential places for Congress’ site visit.
During the visit, Secretary General Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi had a productive meeting with the Party Secretary Mr. Wang Jian of CPC Yiwu Municipal Committee and Deputy Mayor Mr. Lou Zupan of Yiwu Municipal People’s Government. The meeting concluded with the signing of agreement between UCLG ASPAC Secretary General and Yiwu Municipal People’s Government that formally marked the beginning of the preparation of the 9th UCLG ASPAC Congress.
The 9th UCLG ASPAC Congress has also received positive response and support from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). During the visit to Beijing, Secretary General met the Vice President of CPAFFC, Ambassador Jiang Jiang, and shared with him the Congress’s preparation.
Insight Sharing in Chinese Cities
On May 23, 2023, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC delivered her remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Global Youth Business Programme (GYBP) UCLG ASPAC Session. Run with Yiwu – Global Youth Business Programme (GYBP) is sponsored by Yiwu Municipal People’s Government and organised by the Foreign Affairs Office of Yiwu Government. The programme provides trade, e-commerce, and logistics practical training for young people from all over the world. Launched in April 2018, GYBP has completed nine sessions, providing training for 267 outstanding youths from over 60 countries. In Yiwu, Secretary General also delivered her remarks at the Launch Ceremony of the China-Republic of Korea Freight Shipping Centre (Yiwu-Shandong-Republic of Korea).
At the invitation of Mayor Ma Ningyu of Guiyang Municipal People’s Government, on May 26, 2023, Secretary General delivered her remarks at the Smart City Forum for International Friendship Cities in China International Big Data Industry Expo 2023 in Guiyang. She highlighted the importance of collaboration within the multi-actors including local government, academician, and private sector.
Secretary General was interviewed by the Guizhou Daily Sky Eye News regarding the Smart City Forum, the significance and role of sharing the achievements of digital governance in smart city construction, and the role of international organisations in promoting the sharing of digital governance achievements among different cities. CLICK HERE for the full interview.
