Jakarta (ANTARA) - Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, at the 2023 Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals and ASEAN Mayors Forum (MGMAC-AMF), pressed for support for sustainable city development, as it can strengthen economic growth.

"We believe that sustainable city development will support our common goal of strengthening ASEAN's position as the center of regional economic growth for the prosperity of the people and the world," Hartono noted here on Tuesday.

At the MGMAC-AMF, held on August 1-2, 2023, he remarked that Jakarta, as a city and regional government in Southeast Asia, has the same goal to support the continuity of ASEAN's relevance in responding to regional and global challenges.

According to Hartono, regional heads can channel their aspirations at the forum to support the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

The 2023 MGMAC-AMF carried the theme of "Catalysing Regional Growth through Sustainable Development in ASEAN Cities."

"We share ideas, experiences, and good practices and work together in supporting sustainable city development," he remarked.

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Hartono drew attention to the five priority issues discussed at the forum: inclusive economic growth, digital transformation, resilient cities and climate action, localization of sustainable development goals (SDGs), and governance and increased cooperation.

Some 500 participants, including governors and mayors of ASEAN countries, representatives of local government associations in ASEAN, the ASEAN Community Permanent Representatives, partners, and other multilateral agencies participated in the forum.

Earlier, Jakarta provincial secretary Joko Agus Setyono stated that the MGMAC-AMF could be an opportunity for Jakarta to show the facade of the city that continues to grow and develop as part of the global cities in the ASEAN region.

Hartono and Setyono arrived at the event location at around 8:50 a.m. local time.

The acting governor stood in front of the backdrop to greet delegates from various countries by shaking their hands one by one.

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Translator: Siti N, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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