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Jakarta<\/strong> \u2013 Alwis Rustam, Executive Director of APEKSI, spoke at the 5th Urban Mekong Corridor Initiative (UMCI) Dialogue, an international forum held on September 17, 2026, in Jakarta. UCLG ASPAC and Cities Alliance organized this strategic event in partnership, with full support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Centered on the theme of connecting secondary cities in the Mekong region to ASEAN opportunities, the dialogue aimed to foster sustainable urban development and drive more aggressive climate action. In his presentation, Mr. Alwis emphasized the necessity of strong political commitment from local leaders and the importance of cross-border collaboration in addressing the challenges of modern urbanization.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Representing Indonesian cities, he shared best practices on how inclusive governance can accelerate the adoption of pro-environment policies. Aligning local policies with the ASEAN regional agenda was identified as a key factor enabling intermediate cities along the Mekong corridor to capitalize on green financing and technology transfer opportunities. The global dialogue concluded with a collective agreement to strengthen inter-city networks through nature-based solutions and innovative climate financing schemes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jakarta \u2013 Alwis Rustam, Executive Director of APEKSI, spoke at the 5th Urban Mekong Corridor Initiative (UMCI) Dialogue, an international forum held on September 17, 2026, in Jakarta. …