TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo met with Bangkok counterpart Sukhumband at the City Hall on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Sukhumband, along with other governors from ASEAN nations’ capitals, were slated for talks on September 18-19 in Jakarta ahead of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community.

The Bangkok Governor said he arrived early in Jakarta to meet Jokowi in a special meeting. “I admire his initiatives to invite governors from ASEAN capitals to canvass possible cooperation, share experiences and thoughts on various issues,” he said at the City Hall on Tuesday, September 17, 2013.

Sukhumband said Bangkok and Jakarta were exposed to similar problems, including transport, cooperatives, education and slums.

“Jakarta and Bangkok are like brothers” Sukhumband said.

Governor Jokowi confirmed Sukhumband’s arrived early in the capital to have special talks with him. He said they were exchanging thoughts on solutions to various problems besetting both capitals.

“We discussed about problems in Bangkok and Jakarta. I can learn about measures to alleviate traffic congestions and floods in Bangkok,” Jokowi said.

Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo initiated the multilateral talks of governors and mayors of the ASEAN nations in the capital ahead of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community. A total of 110 delegations from the ten ASEAN capitals are scheduled to attend the meetings, which was themed “ASEAN Goes Local: Contributing to ASEAN Community 2015”.

LINDA TRIANITA