City Leaders Reflect on Global Roles

HONOLULU (April 13, 2010) -- In an increasingly urban world, many mayors of today's cities are doing much more than collecting garbage, filling potholes and juggling local budgets. They are moving beyond their municipal role to become global actors.

At a recent East-West Center panel, leaders of four Asia Pacific cities shared some of the ways that the world's major metropolises affect and are affected by global issues. The panel was part of the center's second URBAN ASIA forum for leaders and experts from Asian and U.S. cities.

The vice mayor of the rapidly growing Chinese city of Shenzhen and the deputy mayor of Taipei shared the stage with the governor of Jakarta, as well as the mayor of Honolulu. More than ever, they agreed, leaders of the world's expanding cities are playing a bigger role in global social and environmental issues.

Each of the leaders cited participation in international forums and sister-city relationships as important connections for the global roles they play, both in learning about and sharing ways of dealing with issues facing the whole world.

Shenzhen Vice Mayor Tang Jie said his southern Chinese city, as part of a special economic zone, plays a leading role in moving from a central planning system to a more location-sensitive approach. Shenzhen officials have been meeting regularly with more than 30 sister cities around the world and addressing global issues such as climate change and environmental sustainability, he said.

"Now we use more solar and more wind power in our city," Tang said, "and we promote a lot of measures to induce industries that use a lot of energy to move out, and induce new industries to save energy."

Tang outlined programs that will change all the city's street lights to low-energy bulbs, use new materials and designs to lower emissions, adjust temperatures in all work places, and use more solar and wind power to run the city.

Lin Chien-yuan, deputy mayor of Taipei, discussed some creative approaches to energy conservation, including programs in Taipei that qualify energy-savers to enter a cash lottery.

"Every month, we send out a notice of how much you spend for electricity," Lin said. "If you have saved more than 10 percent, you have saved money, of course. Not only that, you qualify for the lottery."

But not all programs are popular with everyone, he said. For example, Taipei officials have been promoting meat-free Mondays to help reduce greenhouse gases produced by livestock. "Of course, the restaurants are not happy about that," Lin said.

He said Taipei has shared its experience coping with natural disasters with other major cities and contributed to disaster relief efforts in China and elsewhere.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said his city has sought to enhance its global role with efforts to build infrastructure, reduce crime, promote health, address hunger, combat homelessness, host global conferences and establish links to other Pacific islands.

Hannemann noted that city leaders often come under attack for making trips to other cities and countries using taxpayer dollars. But he said there is "no substitute for travel" for leaders to learn and share best practices with other leaders around the world.

"Part of the job of being a governor or mayor or vice-mayor is to promote the assets of your city," Hannemann said.

Gov. Fauzi Bowo of Jakarta praised the East-West Center for bringing officials together and said it was important for city leaders to help build better communication among people and nations.

He noted that Jakarta is a member of the C40 group of the world's biggest cities working together to address problems related to climate change.

"The active role performed by the local governments of major cities is very crucial (to help meet) the global challenges that we face," he said. "Without that, it would be hard, if not impossible, for central governments at the national level to meet their international commitments to create a better world to live in.

##

The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options.

Launched in 2008, the Center's URBAN ASIA seminar series facilitates informal, roundtable dialogue to examine the challenges of urban transition and governance using a knowledge-based approach that integrates experience and data. Through peer-to-peer exchanges on policy options, these diverse groups share and reflect on long-term strategic visions for managing urban growth in the region.

For more information about the seminar, visit:
www.eastwestcenter.org/urbanizationasiaseminar

Click here for links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services

Connect with the East-West Center on Facebook.