Category: News from Asia & Australasia

29 October 2025. The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme held its first session on Subnational Diplomacy and International Engagement, bringing together 31 participants from across the region to exchange experiences and insights on how cities and regions can strengthen their global partnerships and diplomatic capacity. The session, moderated by Pablo Gándara, IURC Asia & Australasia Team Leader, opened...

New Delhi, 29 October 2025 — The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia Programme officially launched its India component during the Urban Infrastructure Finance Festival 2025, held under the theme “Inclusive, Resilient, Sustainable Cities.” The Kick-off Meeting for IURC India, organized as part of the festival, marked a major milestone in advancing international city-to-city cooperation between the European Union (EU) and India....

Around 30 delegates from EU and non-EU regions joined discussions about the upcoming IURC event in Barcelona (3-6 November 2025), including logistics, agenda, and regional participation in various thematic clusters and breakout discussions. The conversation ended with participants expressing their regional interests and priorities for various sessions, emphasizing cooperation and alignment on clean energy, industrial modernization and blue economy. The...

Representatives from the European Union’s International Urban and Regional Cooperation Programme (IURC) convened partners from Prato, Italy, and Seberang Perai, Malaysia, to advance joint work on sustainable tourism initiatives as part of the programme’s Strategic Sectors Cluster on job creation and community livelihoods. Discussions underscored the EU’s continued support in fostering global urban innovation and subnational diplomacy. During the meeting,...

The fifth session of Region-to-Regional Cooperation brought together 50+ participants from various regions including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and Japan to discuss cooperation in industrial transition, agribusiness, blue economy, and clean energy. The meeting featured a presentation from the Region of Valencia on their Blue Economy Strategy and included breakout sessions for participants to discuss specific thematic areas. The...

In a significant step to strengthen international ties, the latest IURC Asia & Australasia online session brought together Chinese pilot cities, European Union officials, and regional leaders to explore how smart city innovation, green energy, and sustainable industrial collaboration can drive long-term growth. Part of the long-standing International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, the meeting served as a platform for Chinese cities to present achievements...

16 October 2025 – Online Deep Dive Session The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia Thematic Network held its third Global Deep Dive on Climate Adaptation, connecting city representatives from Kawasaki (Japan), Seberang Perai (Malaysia), and Kyoto (Japan). The discussion highlighted how cities are transforming climate challenges into opportunities for governance reform, technological innovation, and citizen-led resilience. From Industrial Transition to...