From October 14 to 16, the 5^th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting was held in the host city of Hue (Vietnam), under the theme “Livability for the Sustainable Development of World Heritage Cities.”

The meeting brought together representatives from the cities of Andong, Gimhae, Gochang, Gwangju, Gyeongju, and Hwasun in the Republic of Korea; Denpasar and Sawahlunto in Indonesia; Hue and Hoi An in Vietnam; Kandy in Sri Lanka; and Vigan in the Philippines.

Each city presented its challenges in relation to the conservation and development of historic centers, highlighting a diversity of issues and concerns that are widely shared among cities. These statements bring Asian cities closer than ever to their counterparts in other regions of the world, which, often based on similar analyses, have actively engaged in the collective reflection led by the OWHC to share their experiences and seek new solutions together. They also shared projects and solutions implemented in their cities that demonstrate that heritage is a driver of sustainable development, social cohesion, and well-being for them.

To learn more about their initiatives and the contribution of Asian cities to the development of the New Urban Project program, see the meeting report: