Asia-Pacific-U.S. Urban Dialogue Program | East-West Center

The rapid growth of cities in Asia has strained urban administrative systems as they struggle to respond to unprecedented political, economic, social, and physical changes. Government, civil society, and corporations must learn to adapt and innovate—while simultaneously preparing for future growth.

This interdisciplinary, multi-country program examined the current trends and implications of rapid urbanization from a “knowledge-based” approach that integrates experience and data. In the two years since its inception, 172 representatives from 15 countries have taken part in Urban Dialogue activities.

Since 1960, the East-West Center has brought together policymakers and scholars from across the Asia Pacific region and the United States to exchange views on issues of mutual concern for the purpose of strengthening policy responses. This Urban Dialogue was designed to promote active city-to-city learning exchanges by offering key decision makers and urbanization specialists the opportunity-- in a relaxed and informal setting-- to talk freely and openly about the critical urban transformation challenges they face.

UPCOMING PROGRAM:

Changing Cities - Linking Global Knowledge to Local Action
26-28 September 2011
East-West Center, Imin International Conference Center
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

By Invitation Only

Click here for more information.

For a list of past programs, click here.

Small, roundtable dialogues that encourage peer-to-peer exchanges on policy options

A diverse, high-level group of key leaders, policymakers and experts from across Asia and the U.S. who share and reflect on their long-term strategic visions for managing urban growth

A relaxed, informal setting on the campus of the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii USA

Each 3-Day Seminar Focuses on These Core Questions:

How do cities learn?
What 21st Century tools will help shape our responses to the urban transformation?
How do we build sustainable prosperity into the urban growth process?
How do we mobilize populations, governments, institutions, and civil society to forge a common plan of action?
What are the “building blocks” of effective urban planning?
How can we use innovation to address the challenges of rapid urbanization?

More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2015, twelve of the twenty-two mega cities projected to develop worldwide will be in Asia, and by 2030 Asia will account for more than half of the world’s urban population—2.66 billion people out of a total global urban population of 4.94 billion (United Nations Population Fund, State of the World Population 2007: Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth ). This transformation is redefining peoples’ lifestyles, employment, welfare, housing needs, and social interactions. It is creating new power relationships in organizations and government, altering the geopolitical landscape. The extraordinary growth of cities in Asia has been pivotal to expanded economic development and increased wealth in the region. But it is also changing the social fabric and culture of the countries—exacerbating poverty, slums, and environmental degradation in the urban agglomerations and peri-urban areas. Policymakers at all levels must respond to both the challenges and opportunities of urbanization in order to maximize its potential to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

For more information regarding the Urban Dialogue, contact

Ms. Meril Dobrin Fujiki
Seminars Development Coordinator
East-West Seminars
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601
Phone: 1-808-944-7352
Fax: 1-808-944-7600
Email: fujikim@eastwestcenter.org