Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta hosts a two-day meeting of chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member country capitals aiming at increasing cooperation.

"Even though the meeting is emphasized on efforts to explore and build up economy cooperation, delegates should also discuss efforts to improve essential elements in rural areas to better levels," Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo said in his remarks to open the meeting here on Wednesday.

He added that each city should be able to take good examples demonstrated by the other cities and apply it to develop the life of people living in ASEAN cities.

Some 110 delegates from ten ASEAN countries attend the meeting entitled "ASEAN Goes Local: Contributing to ASEAN Community 2015".

The meeting was part of steps in building up an institutional framework that facilitates active role of local governments in all ASEAN member countries in developing ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

As most of economic activities were conducted in the capital cities, leaders of ASEAN capital cities hold key role in promoting and communicating the idea of ASEAN single market by 2015 to people living in their respective cities, according to AEC blue print.

The meeting was expected to become a cornerstone for further regular communication forum among governors and mayors in ASEAN cities. A joint declaration is to be issued at the end of the event.