On Wednesday, March 25, Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka of Yokohama City met with UN ESCAP Deputy Executive Secretary Shombi Sharp in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mayor Yamanaka emphasized his commitment to ensuring that Yokohama is fully prepared to co-host APUF-9 (the 9th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum) with ESCAP in 2027 and pledged to contribute to a successful conference and the sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region. Together with ESCAP, he unveiled the official APUF-9 logo for the first time.
The APUF-9 logo was designed with input from ESCAP and other partners, and was selected based on feedback from young people, including students interested in the United Nations and sustainable development. They felt it was colorful, diverse, and full of hope for a bright future, while also synthesizing Yokohama City’s local uniqueness with a more international feel. The logo’s green symbolizes a green society, the blue represents Yokohama and UN ESCAP, and red conveys passion.
Yokohama and ESCAP hope the logo will help build excitement for the conference, for which preparations are underway.
During the meeting, Mayor Yamanaka also announced “APUF Voices of the Future,” a youth initiative that aims to involve 10,000 young people in helping to shape the future of cities in the Asia-Pacific region and in sharing their ideas globally. Deputy Executive Secretary Sharp expressed support, stating that it is a commendable initiative and that ESCAP would be pleased to work together to advance it.
Additionally, Mayor Yamanaka reported on the submission to the United Nations and publication of Yokohama’s Voluntary Local Review 2026 (VLR 2026 Yokohama).
Yokohama, in partnership with ESCAP, will continue to lead sustainable urban development initiatives as a leading environmentally advanced city in the Asia-Pacific region.
[Yokohama, Japan will be the next host for Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF)]
Yokohama, Japan will be the next host for Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF)
[Yokohama Announces its Second Voluntary Local Review to Further Contribute to Global SDGs]
Yokohama Announces its Second Voluntary Local Review to Further Contribute to Global SDGs
