TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Governors and Mayors of ASEAN countries' capitals gathered in Jakarta today to deliberate on prospective contributions of the local governments to ASEAN community building processes set for end of 2015. Meeting under the theme "ASEAN Goes Local: Contributing to the 'ASEAN Community 2015," these local officials will be in Jakarta from September 17 to 19, according to a release by the ASEAN Press Tempo received today.
"The theme chosen for the current meeting, 'ASEAN Goes Local,' is indeed close to our hearts. It reminds us that the aspired ASEAN Community is more than about being a hub of trade, investment, and services. A very important objective of the ASEAN Community is realizing a people-oriented ASEAN in which all sectors of society are encouraged to participate in, and benefit from the process of ASEAN integration and community building,” said Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs Dr. AKP Mochtan, during the opening ceremony.
Acting as host, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, welcomed his counterparts. "In order to actively contribute to make the ASEAN single market a success-story and a win-win-situation for all our cities and citizens, we need to better understand what is about to come and how we can prepare the people in our cities and ourselves for the ASEAN Economic Community," Jokowi said.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Affairs Wardana said "it is high time for local governments to build networks of cooperation, to share experiences and best practices in preparing their cities to be ready for ASEAN Community 2015." He emphasised that "ASEAN Community can only be realized through greater participation of all stakeholders. In this regard, local governments in ASEAN are essential stakeholders in promoting awareness, participation and sense of ownership among people in the region."
The two-day meeting will feature presentation on ASEAN, sharing of best practicer regarding the roles of local governments in supporting the establishment of ASEAN Community 2015, exploring the possibility to establish a Forum for Local Governments as a sectoral body of ASEAN or an entity associated with ASEAN, and site visit to ASEAN Secretariat.
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