The 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals: MGMAC
The 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals: MGMAC
Summary of the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) from 22 – 24 April 2019 and the 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2019: MGMAC 2019 from 26 – 28 June 2019
Mission Group: Infrastructure and utilities, public health and environment, and management group
Discussion Topic: “Enhancing Cooperative Network for Sustainable Future”
Location/Date:
The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) from 22 – 24 April 2019 at The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok
The 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2019: MGMAC 2019 from 26 – 28 June 2019 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangrak District, Bangkok
Summary:
- Senior Officials Meeting (SOM)
Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held on 22 – 24 April 2019, at the Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok. The purpose is to be a preparatory meeting before the Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals, planned to be held in June. The objective was to emphasize the importance of exchanging ideas, knowledge, and practices among ASEAN capitals including supporting concrete and sustainable cooperation projects between cities.
The meeting was conducted under the following 4 topics:
1.1 Cultural tourism and community economic development
1.2 Joint investment between the public and private sectors for good environment
1.3 Elderly society and policies addressing health of elderly people in the city
1.4 Leveraging technological innovation for intelligent living
Subsequently, the meeting participants shared opinions and suggested ways to create cooperation among the capitals of ASEAN countries. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has proposed the Preventive Long-Term Care (PLC) project for Elderly People as a cooperation project between cities. Bandar Seri Begawan and Naypyidaw agreed to cooperate on the issue. Other cooperation projects proposed such as exchanging officials for land development or land use in Phnom Penh for urban planning, and transportation by Phnom Penh, with which Kuala Lumpur agreed to cooperate in urban planning for sustainable development; and Singapore proposed technological innovation projects to improve the quality of life of citizens.
- The 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2019: MGMAC 2019
The 7th Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2019: MGMAC 2019 was held on 26 – 28 June 2019 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangrak District, Bangkok. The purpose is to provide a platform for ASEAN leaders to share experiences and promote cooperation within the ASEAN framework at cities level. as well as to strengthen the relationship between capital cities in the ASEAN region and jointly bring the conclusions of the ASEAN meetings at the national level into guidelines that emphasize the importance of promoting participation in all sectors with an emphasis on partnership for sustainability. ASEAN leaders, city representatives, and attendees from all cities joined together to convey their vision and share experiences to be applied in sustainable urban development in the future according to the ASEAN Community framework under 3 pillars as follows:
- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration presented capacity development projects for youths to support and inspire English as second language education on the ‘Friend-to-Friend’ project and the Bangkok-ASEAN Student News Center project, and community economic development through sustainable cultural tourism, with the example from a local community called Hua Takhe community.
- Bandar Seri Begawan presented public safety issues, including a police bicycle patrol project, and waste management project through community recycling called the “Green Depot” project.
- Phnom Penh presented its flood management master plan project to increase drainage capacity to protect the city from flooding.
- Vientiane presented on infrastructure development to facilitate tourism, with a focus on foreign investment, especially cooperation projects with Lower Mekong cities.
- Kuala Lumpur presented green development project to enhance Kuala Lumpur to be a greener capital and a better city.
- Naypyidaw presented urban environment development to create a green city and policies for sustainable urban development.
- Singapore presented successful cases of various aging society projects, including a City for All Ages project, the Kampong (Village) for All Ages project, etc.
- Hanoi presented on cultural tourism and community economic development by encouraging communities to play a role in tourism development together with the government.
Subsequently, ASEAN leaders exchanged opinions and agreed to carry out two joint projects: the ASEAN Youth Potential Development Project and the Cultural Tourism Development Project. There is also a proposal to promote English as a second language so that youth will have English language skills comparable to youth in other ASEAN cities. A representative of the ASEAN Secretariat commented that the sub-agencies of the ASEAN Secretariat can act as a center for exchange and coordination between ASEAN capitals to build strong and close cooperation between ASEAN capitals. The results of the meeting achieved the goals according to the main topic of the meeting which is “Enhancing Cooperative Network for Sustainable Future”
Finally, ASEAN leaders signed the Bangkok Declaration to express their intentions and commitment to one another in creating a peaceful society, developing citizens' quality of life in the context of the capital, and creating a society of learning and multiculturalism. Including exchanging experiences and knowledge on issues related to strengthening communities through cultural tourism, cooperation of all sectors to solve urban problems, promoting policies for caring for the elderly, and building cities for all as well as developing technological innovations for everyone to live happily and sustainably in cities.
Next steps:
The Governor of Bangkok had signed the Order of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, dated 7 July 2022 appointing a committee to drive cooperation with the capitals of ASEAN member countries and the committee has the authority to consider and determine various projects/activities of Bangkok to create concrete cooperation between the capitals of ASEAN member countries according to the Bangkok Declaration, which the committee Agreed to proceed with cooperation according to the framework as follows:
Bilateral cooperation framework with the Republic of Singapore
(1) Creating a city for everyone (City for All), which Bangkok Metropolitan Administration can use as a model for developing into a smart city in the future in various issues, such as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), creating space for tourism in the style of Smart City, creating Green City and Universal Design. The relevant agencies include the City Planning and Urban Development Department, Environment Department, Traffic and Transportation Department, and Transport and Public Works Department.
(2) Sports School is to be used as a model for sports schools in Bangkok in various issues, including full management, sports and physical sciences, and course structure. The relevant agencies include Culture, Sports and Tourism Department and Department of Education.
Multilateral cooperation framework with capital cities that are ready and have potential
(1) ASEAN Youth Camp to create a network of ASEAN youth, including language exchange, cultural exchange, and developing sustainable cooperation. The relevant agencies include Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department and Education Department
(2) Preventive Long-Term Care (PLC) to expand cooperation between ASEAN capitals, including exchanging knowledge and best practices, bringing knowledge and experience to further development. The relevant agencies include Medical Service Department and Health Department.
