Mayor Azim Secures Historic Regional Summit for Malé City

Malé City has won the bid to host the 2027 United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) Executive Bureau Meeting for the first time. The announcement came during the 2026 UCLG ASPAC Council Meeting held in Haikou, China, which was attended by Mayor of Malé City Adam Azim and a delegation from the City Council.

This historic achievement gives Malé an important role in regional decision-making. Hosting the 2027 summit will bring city leaders from across the Asia-Pacific together in the Maldives to work on shared solutions, urban development, and regional partnerships.
Strong Voice for Island Communities

During the summit, Mayor Azim spoke at the Marine Economic Cooperation & Sustainable Development Exchange. He raised awareness about the unique climate and environmental challenges that small island cities face every day.

The Mayor called for stronger regional cooperation, better coastal protection, and sustainable planning for island communities. He emphasized that global and regional meetings are crucial for island cities to voice their concerns and turn commitments into real-world action.

New Partnerships and Haikou Flights
On the sidelines of the summit, Mayor Azim met with Dr. Tong Guichan, Vice Mayor of Haikou. Both leaders discussed working closer together on key areas including tourism, trade, education, and climate action.

To boost these ties, the two leaders explored the possibility of starting direct flights between Malé and Haikou. Direct flights would make travel easier, bring more tourists, and strengthen economic connections between both cities.

Key Meetings on AI and Good Governance

Mayor Azim also took part in two important council committees:

7th Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus Committee: Member cities adopted a joint agreement to work together on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology solutions to tackle common challenges.

Financial Management Committee (FMC): As part of this oversight team, the Mayor helped review budgets, audit procedures, and financial policies to ensure transparent and responsible governance across the organization.

Planting Trees for a Greener Tomorrow
Before concluding the trip, Mayor Azim joined UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi and other city leaders for a tree-planting activity at Fengxiang Wetland Park in Haikou. The event highlighted a shared regional commitment to protecting the environment and building greener, more sustainable cities.