KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration on Localising Asean Community Vision 2045 will be submitted to the 47th Asean Summit in October as official input, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Nga, who is also UN Habitat Assembly (UNHA) president, said that the declaration sends a clear and urgent message that urban leadership is essential and that local voices are central to shaping Asean's future.
"These milestones are not just agreements on paper, they are a promise of stronger regional cooperation and a shared resolve to build cities that are resilient, sustainable and people-centred.
"As president of UNHA, I take note of the need for action on the ground. I call for constructive and innovative action to ensure that cities and member states work together to realise the Asean Vision 2045," he said.
Nga pointed out this at the joint closing ceremony of the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (Asuf), Asean Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) 2025.
The events, held over three days, were attended by more than 9,000 participants from across Asean and beyond, and addressed pressing urban challenges such as climate change, housing affordability and urban sprawl.
Apart from the declaration, Nga also launched the KL Call to Action for COP30, calling it the "central engine" to drive Asean's collective climate response.
The initiative aims to integrate the New Urban Agenda into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process so that environmental policies are implemented effectively by local governments and communities.
At the same time, it will push for the integration of the New Urban Agenda into the UNFCCC process, ensuring environmental policies are effectively implemented at the local level.
Nga said the Asuf reaffirmed its alignment with the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (Asus) and Asean Community Vision 2045, with Malaysia set to launch an Asean Smart and Sustainable Centre led by Urbanice Malaysia to drive scalable projects and city-to-city partnerships.
The AGMF, on the other hand, adopted shared commitments including promoting greater inclusion of women and youth in urban governance, while the MGMAC agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
"Among its key commitments are the formalisation of the MGMAC City Network, the advancement of Voluntary Local Reviews, and a united call for greater investment at the local level from international institutions such as the United Nations and the World Bank," he said.
Meanwhile, in her speech, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated that the establishment of the secretariat in Jakarta would monitor and report on commitments and support for the Philippines, which is the upcoming Asean host.
"With the generous support of the Governor of Jakarta, The Honorable Pramono Anung, the secretariat will help us coordinate, share resources and manage projects on the ground," she said. – Bernama
