The 9th United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Asia Pacific Congress kicked off in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province . The opening ceremony and main forum, together with five sub-forums and a number of economic, trade and cultural activities, were held from November 13 to 15. The UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting, Council Meeting, and other Committee meetings also took place at the same time. 

At the UCLG ASPAC Council Meeting, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Xi'an, and Yiwu were elected by voting as members of the UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau 2024-2025. Fuzhou’s re-election as the Executive Bureau and Council member has manifested its international popularity and influence, which demonstrates the international community’s recognition for its participation in regional governance and promoting regional exchanges and cooperation for many years. 

At the congress, H.E. Dakila Carlo Cua, Governor of Quirino Province and President of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, was elected as the president of UCLG ASPAC. Madam Zhang Yajie, Vice Chair of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Guangzhou Committee, Mr. He Xiong, Mayor of Zhengzhou City, Mr. Sam Broughton, President of Local Government of New Zealand and Mayor of Selwyn District Coucil, Mr. Bhim Prasad Dhungana, President of MuAN and Mayor of Neelakantha City, Mr. Ranjit S. Chavan, President of All India Institute of Local Self Government, Mr. Heru Budi Hartono, Acting Governor of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia, and Mr. Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal, were selected as Co-Presidents. 

During the event, representatives of Fuzhou attended the Congress, Executive Bureau Meeting, Council Meeting and other relevant statutory meetings and several sub-forums, and were invited as founding members to attend the closing ceremony and the inauguration ceremony of UCLG ASPAC Logistics Committee. They shared the operation experience of the 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, which has opened up new space for exchanges and cooperation. The delegation of Fuzhou also met Mr. Byanju Shrestha, H.E. Dakila Carlo Cua and Dr. Bernadia, Secretary-General of UCLG ASPAC, and had in-depth exchanges with them on promoting maritime cooperation, economic and trade exchanges and carrying out cooperation under the framework of UCLG ASPAC. 

Nearly 500 representatives from cities, international organizations, embassies and consulates in China, and business associations from 36 countries and regions including China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal and New Zealand attended the event. 

Source: 21CMCC