PH Joins Asia Urban Youth Assembly
The Philippines joined the other 33 countries during the Asia Urban Youth Assembly (AUYUA) in Melaka, Malaysia last March 26, 2017 with the theme “Youth Roles Towards New Urban Agenda-Taking Action for Innovative Socially Minded, Green Cities.”
According to Chief Minister of Melaka Datuk Seri Utama Ir Hj Idris bin Haron, the AUYUA is an international conference that provides platforms for Asia’s youth to deliberate and to discuss various significant concerns so that they can make relevant contributions to the New Urban Agenda of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations (UN) has 17 different Sustainable Development Goals.
The Asia Urban Youth Assembly aims to change the young people’s perceptions in creating sustainable development, explore opportunities for them to play meaningful roles in the implementation and follow-up and review the New Urban Agenda.
The Assembly’s theme was in conjunction with the 17th International Convention on Melaka Twin Cities 2017, this is where the delegates, guests and members of the foreign and local media as well as bloggers explores Melaka’s history and be captivated by their culture.
Related to the theme, Melaka, Malaysia is hosting the event for the first time as they share the same goals as the AYUA. According to Haron, the city is looking into improving technology, making adjustments in urban development practices and targeting to transform Melaka into a Green City or more environment-centric by 2020.
“We aim to transform our cities to become resilient, inclusive, manage our natural resources, sustainable and promote low carbon growth to remain competitive and enhance livability to our conference,“ Haron said in his opening remarks during the Asia Urban Youth Assembly.
The assembly was graced by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi who gave the welcoming speech, Speaker of State Legislative Assembly Datuk Wira HJ, Othman bin Muhamad, Melaka State Secretary Datuk Seri HJ, Naim bin Abu Bakar, chief of the UN Human Settlements Programme and UN-Habitat Bangkok Mariko Sato and other local government representatives as well as the ambassadors of various embassies.
