Three years after the Covid-19 pandemic, Jakarta has consistently strengthened sister city cooperation relations with the City of Shanghai, People's Republic of China (PRC). It can be seen yesterday, where Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono received a visit from the Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and his staff at Jakarta City Hall.

We also express interest in knowing more about urban planning and waste management in Shanghai

This visit is part of the Shanghai Mayor's first overseas working visit series since the end of the Zero Covid-19 policy by the PRC and since the shooting of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sister city cooperation between Jakarta and Shanghai, which was signed by post on October 23, 2020.

On that occasion, they discussed plans to increase post-pandemic cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, culture, sports, and tourism, especially urban tourism.

Aside that, the Shanghai City Government is also interested in carrying out ASN competence exchange and improvement, scholarship programs for students and students, and inviting the Jakarta Provincial Government and companies from Jakarta to participate in the China International Import Expo on the upcoming November 5-10, 2023.

"We also express interest in knowing more about urban planning and waste management in Shanghai, and welcome Shanghai's invitation to attend the China International Import Expo, by encouraging participation from BUMD in Jakarta," he expressed, as quoted by Jakarta PPID's press release.

Even, the Acting Governor also invited Shanghai to participate in the ASEAN Capitals Mayors and Governors Meeting (MGMAC) and the ASEAN Mayors Forum (AMF), which is slated in August 2023.

He hoped that this cooperation could strengthen friendly and partnership relations between the two cities, be mutually beneficial for both parties, and strengthen partnership and cooperation relations between Jakarta and Shanghai, as well as between Indonesia and China.

"Surely, we can gain a lot of experience from Shanghai in increasing Jakarta's potential as a business, finance, trade and logistics center in Indonesia and the ASEAN region, especially in the planned relocation of the national capital to IKN Nusantara in 2024," he concluded.

As for the information, the cooperation between Jakarta and Shanghai was initiated by considering the similar characteristics of Jakarta and Shanghai as cities of services, trade, finance, ports, and national economic drivers. It is hoped that the two cities can keep developing cooperation in mutually advancing fields, particularly in supporting the development of Jakarta as a global city.