Indonesia Proposed Smart City Ties With Pacific Alliance
The proposal was made during the ninth ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting at the United Nations in New York.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in International Relations
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Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono has called for enhanced smart city cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance to bolster regional partnerships. The proposal was presented during the ninth ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting held alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Why it matters
Indonesia views smart city initiatives as a strategic pathway to develop effective and sustainable regional connectivity. This effort aims to create practical solutions for common urban challenges by linking metropolitan hubs across the two organizations.
The meeting gathered 11 ASEAN nations and 4 Pacific Alliance members, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Colombia, to coordinate on economic and environmental goals. The initiative follows a 2025 launch of a joint online sustainable tourism learning program.
The players
Sugiono
He is the Foreign Affairs Minister of Indonesia who advocated for increased urban collaboration during the meeting.
ASEAN
This is a regional intergovernmental organization consisting of 11 countries in Southeast Asia.
Pacific Alliance
This is a trade bloc comprised of four Latin American nations including Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Colombia.
The details
The ministerial meeting, co-chaired by Thailand and Mexico, focused on deepening cooperation in areas such as education, youth development, and environmental sustainability. By integrating smart city frameworks, the nations seek to align urban growth strategies across diverse regional borders.
Timeline
The joint online learning initiative for sustainable tourism was launched in 2025.
Minister Sugiono spoke at the ministerial meeting on September 22, 2026.
The Big Picture
This proposal extends the ASEAN-Pacific Alliance cooperation framework to include modern urban governance metrics. It shifts the traditional scope of the partnership toward specific technological and logistical integration between member states.
While the initiative is at a diplomatic level, its success could eventually streamline urban infrastructure and digital service access in participating cities. Residents may see long-term benefits in improved public transit, environmental management, and shared digital learning resources.
The takeaway
Diplomatic efforts to link major global cities highlight a growing trend in using shared technological standards to solve regional urban issues. Implementing these smart city networks could serve as a model for future cooperation between geographically distant trade blocs.
Further reading
For broader context on regional diplomatic efforts, visit the International Relations section.
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