MELAKA, Malaysia — The Philippines is among the country delegates to the Asia Urban Youth Assembly (AUYA) 2017, which opened on Sunday in Melaka, Malaysia.

Chief Minister of Melaka Datuk Seri Utama Ir Hj Idris bin Haron said the AUYA is an international conference that provides a platform 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 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The SDG was agreed upon at the Habitat III cities Conference in Quito, Ecuador last October.

The Philippines joined 33 other countries that aim to change 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.





Philippines is among the delegates of Asia Urban Youth Assembly 2017 in Melaka. #AUYA #ICYDKMelaka @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/hPb0n9C4pr — Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) March 26, 2017

Aside from the Philippines, countries which are part of the AUYA include host country, Malaysia. Other country delegates are as follows:

Bangladesh

Belize

Canada

China

Colombia

Czech Republic

Ethiopia

Ghana

Hong Kong

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Korea

Macedonia

Maldives

Morocco

Nepal Nigeria

Pakistan

Rwanda

Somalia

Tanzania

Thailand

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey

The United Arab Emirates

Uganda

United States

Zambia

Zimbabwe

This year, the AUYA’s theme is “Youth Roles Towards New Urban Agenda - Taking Action for Innovative, Socially Minded, Green Cities.” It is in conjunction with the 17th International Convention on Melaka Twin Cities 2017 where delegates, guests, members of the foreign and local media as well as bloggers get to explore Melaka's culture and history.

Related to the conference’s theme, Melaka, Malaysia, is hosting AUYA for the first time as the city shares the same goals as the assembly. Haron said 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.

Melaka is hosting AUYA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Council and Sports, United Nations Habitat, Melaka Historic City Council, UN-Youth and World Assembly of Youth.

“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 opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi also gave his welcoming speech to local and international guests. Other officials who graced the assembly were 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 ambassadors from various embassies.

On Monday, the AUYA delegate countries are set to hold plenary sessions and discuss youth participation in urban crime prevention and violence, contributions in development of urban areas, the SDGs, and entrepreneurship, among several others.