ASEAN mayors discuss cooperation for building smart, resilient cities

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ASEAN mayors discuss cooperation for building smart, resilient cities

On August 2, 2022, the ASEAN logo is seen at a hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. VINCENT THIAN AP PHNOM PENH - The mayors of the major cities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN gathered here on Friday to discuss ways to promote cooperation for building smart, resilient, and sustainable cities in the region.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that the cities are the heart of countries and regions, and they are the places for all kinds of activities, particularly in the socio-economic, cultural and political fields, as well as the meeting of Governors Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2022.

He said that the building and connecting of smart, resilient and sustainable cities must begin with socio-economic development and the building of a strong, sustainable and inclusive community.

The ASEAN Smart Cities Network, founded in 2018, has made a significant contribution to realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, he said.

Hun Sen said that in the context of the challenges facing the ASEAN and the world, the use of digital technology is the most accurate direction for the present and future.

Smart cities have great potentials in addressing common issues of urban planning in an innovative way, strengthening resilience to various risks, and especially improving the well-being and prosperity of local people in a new normal, he said.

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He added that smart cities will become a major poles for promoting stronger socio-economic, business, trade and investment activities, as well as providing job and business opportunities to the general population in countries and the whole ASEAN region.

The Cambodian leader said that peace, security, stability and prosperity is the most important foundation for building smart, resilient and sustainable cities.

He said that all ASEAN city and capital administrations should work together to increase the potentials of the ASEAN smart city connectivity and integration, by promoting digitalization and digital transformation.

READ MORE: Cambodia: ASEAN needs to strengthen solidarity, unity, and centrality.

Hun Sen asked ASEAN local governments to support the Cambodia-proposed ASEAN Green Deal, which aims to contribute to the building of greener ASEAN smart cities with a more efficient use of resources.