Category: News from Asia & Australasia

EU-Malaysia Urban and Regional Cooperation: Kick-off Meeting with Pilot Cities

The IURC Asia-Australasia programme launched its fourth kick-off meeting in the Asia-Australasia region on 17 July 2025, this time with Malaysian pilot cities: Seberang Perai, Penang (a graduate city) and Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Johor (a newcomer city). Ms. Viktorija Kaidalova, representing the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (Regional Team for Asia and the Pacific), outlined the programme’s goals...

IURC Korea Kick-off: Strengthening EU–Korea Urban and Regional Cooperation

The IURC programme launched its first exciting kick-off meeting in Korea with delegations from Seoul Metropolitan Government, City of Jeonju, Incheon Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do Provincial Government, Chungcheongnam-do Province, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. All 6 Korean cities and regions shared their commitment and ambitions towards expanding partnership with EU partners in sustainable urban development and regional innovation field. At the IURC...

Strategic Partnerships forged at the 14th Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025 (2 to 4 July in Vienna)

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation Asia & Australasia (IURC AA) accepted the invitation by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), to join as a strategic partner at the 14th Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025 (a flagship component of the World Cities Summit (WCS)) in Vienna, Austria from 2 to 4...

IURC Showcases Global Urban Cooperation at EU Cities Forum 2025 in Kraków

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme proudly marked its successful participation at the EU Cities Forum 2025, held last week in Kraków, Poland. As one of the key platforms for dialogue on sustainable urban development in Europe, the Forum brought together city leaders, policy makers, and practitioners to advance the goals of the EU Urban Agenda and Green...

Official Launch of the IURC Asia and Australasia Initiative Held at Expo 2025 Osaka (Hybrid Event)

Group pictureOpening remarks by DG REGIOOpening remarks by FPIOpening remarks by Osaka PrefectureOpening remarks by Catalonian Minister Duch Panel discussionPanel discussionPanel discussion Over 150 participants joined the virtual Hybrid Launch of the IURC Asia and Australasia (AA) at the EU Pavilion on the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, on 28 May 2025. The event provided an opportunity to...

Register: Hybrid Launch of the IURC AA on 28/05/2025

IURC Hybrid Seminar to Spotlight Global Urban and Regional Cooperation at the Expo 2025 Osaka We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming seminar: “European Union, Asia and Australasia: Building Partnerships Between Cities and Regions” Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025Time: 08:00 – 10:00 CEST (15:00 – 17:00 local time in Japan)Venue: Online (Zoom) – Hybrid event at the EU...

Maia Circular Economy Cooperation – EcoSchool Videos

The City of Maia and its communication partners Biorumo have completed six (6) "Do-It-Yourself" videos on circular economy waste management. These videos were shared with Kuala Lumpur City Hall during the Climate Change Seminar on 21 September which attracted 270 pax in-person attendance. Susana Pinho, Senior Technician from Maia City Council was instrumental in executing this with Mr. Carlos Mendes,...

Bangkok launches first food policy in cooperation with Milan and the European Union

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has reached a significant milestone with the introduction of the Bangkok Food Policy 2023-2027, aimed at enhancing the sustainability and inclusivity of the city’s food system. The policy is a result of Bangkok’s cooperation with the European Union (EU). Under this policy, Bangkok envisions itself as “the city of food with sustainability, equity and quality”....

Thematic Webinar Series – Closing Modules

Thematic Webinar Series - Closing Modules Monday 11 December - 22 December 2023 08:00 am Brussels time (CET) Venue: Online (Zoom link will be sent after registration) The IURC Asia and Australasia team will be running a series of thematic webinars dealing with: EU Funding: Opportunities for possible pilot / follow-up actions Tactical Urbanism – Deep Dive and Pilot Actions Smart...

City resilience at the forefront of EU-India city partnerships

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme was formally launched in India in February 2022 and worked with 14 Indian cities and 9 European cities, through 9 city pairings and five single cities. The programme focused on exchange of best practices, thematic cluster workshops, exchange visits, bi-lateral meetings, etc. For three city pairings it was possible to design and...