PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the plenary session of the Summit (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – As an active member of the ASEANSmart Cities Network (ASCN), Vietnam has built policies and made effortsto develop smart cities, considering this one of three key tasks in thenational digital transformation process, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hasstated.
Addressing the plenary session of the ASEAN Smart CitiesSummit and Expo 2020 in Hanoi on October 22, the PM said as the Chairmanof ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam virtually hosted the ASCN’s 3rd conference in July,which discussed action plans to realise the building of smart cities and strengthencooperation with partners in the spirit of an cohesive and responsive ASEAN.
Smart urban development is really "a big game" thatneeds to be joined by many "players" with vision and resources,towards realising the goal of happiness, comprehensive human development,environmental protection and sustainable development of urban ecosystems, theVietnamese government leader affirmed.
Vietnam defines smart and sustainable urban development as abreakthrough direction to contribute to improving the national competitiveness,he went on.
He underlined that smart city development must be closelylinked with strong information infrastructure and e-government development,towards an digital government.
It also needs to focus on promoting the added value broughtabout by new technologies and techniques, as well as the distinctive culturalidentities of ASEAN member nations, he noted.
Besides, it is necessary to attract the strong participationof the private sector in boosting innovation and creativity, he emphasised.
The PM asked for continued promotion of scientific strategicand high-quality human resources development programmes, as well asharmoniously linking innovation and digital transformation programmes with sustainablesmart city rban development orientations.
Meanwhile, head of the Party Central Committee's EconomicCommission Nguyen Van Binh said developing smart cities is an important way toeffectively tap opportunities brought by the fourth Industrial Revolution, towardssustainable development for each country.
The ASCN, which groups 26 member cities, is a collaborativeforum among cities of the 10 ASEAN member states towards achieving common goalsof smart and sustainable urban development, Binh said.
Participants to the ASEAN Smart Cities Summit and Expo2020 focused on sharing of initiatives and experience in developing smartcities in the region, and measures to further promote regional cooperation inthis field.
In the framework of the event, a number of symposiums wereorganised, focusing on smart urban planning and management in urbanisation andurban development strategy, development of digital infrastructure andfundamental digital technology for smart cities, development of smart servicesin cities serving national digital transformation process, smart energy andtransportation in urbanisation and urban development./.
VNA
