Mayors and governors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states’ capital cities are meeting in Jakarta , Indonesia on September 18-19 to discuss the planned ASEAN Community by 2015.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event is led by Nguyen Van Suu, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Addressing the function, Governor of Jakarta Joko Widodo highlighted the prominent and leading role of the capital cities in regional connectivity and integration, looking towards the common goal of “One vision, One identity, One community” by 2015.

He described the goal as an impulse and challenge for closer cooperation between ASEAN member countries in general and their capitals in particular.

He laid special emphasis on mutual understanding, experience sharing, administrative practice, best management and mutually beneficial cooperation between capital authorities and people.

Sharing Joko Widodo’s views, Indonesian Foreign Minister Wardhana said the cooperation, experience exchange and practice between the capital cities are of special significance not only for the 2015 ASEAN Community and the years beyond in order to ensure the group’s full, comprehensive and practical integration, with people playing the central role.

He pointed to difficulties and challenges during the establishment of the ASEAN Community and ensuring an environment of peace, security, stability and democracy for the development and prosperity of each member country and the region at large.

The two-day meeting is scheduled to hear the ASEAN Secretariat’s brief on achievements the bloc has recorded in the integration process and EU representatives’ stories in this field.

The event, co-organised by the Jakarta municipal authorities, the ASEAN Secretariat and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, will ink and issue the Jakarta joint statement.-VNA