Vietnam attends ASEAN Smart Cities Network Annual Meeting in Thailand

8/25/2019 - 10:33:38 AM

The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Annual Meeting 2019 was officially opened in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 23, under the presidency of the hosts.

Delegates join a group photo at the ASEAN Smart Cities Network Annual Meeting 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, from August 22-23.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh, along with representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Construction, attended the event.

Speaking at the meeting, the Vietnamese deputy minister said that Vietnam highly acknowledged the achievements as well as the future orientations of the ASCN, while it would continue to realise its duties and responsibilities as an ASCN member by actively studying and developing smart cities in accordance with Vietnamese conditions and in integration with ASEAN and the world.

Sinh informed delegates at the event that in 2020, Vietnam will assume the rotating Chairmanship of ASEAN and also the host country for ASCN activities. Therefore, it is actively developing the organisational scheme with the goal of creating favourable conditions for exchanging experiences and forming linkages on smart urban development among ASEAN countries, localities, private enterprises and stakeholders, promoting smart urban development toward green and sustainable growth, and enhancing investment and international cooperation to implement action plans and smart urban development projects.

The ASCN annual meeting gathered representatives from 10 ASEAN member countries, including those from 26 local smart cities, to strengthen cooperation and promote the development of a smart and sustainable city network in ASEAN.

At the conference, the ASCN Terms of Reference was adopted for submission to the 35th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to be held in Bangkok by the year-end. Accordingly, ASCN will provide advisory inputs and strategies for smart urban initiatives and promote the ASEAN Smart Cities Agenda.

ASCN was established by the ASEAN leaders at the 32nd ASEAN Summit, held in April 2018 in Singapore. It is regarded as a forum for ASEAN cities to share their experiences and expertise in addressing urbanisation issues through innovative approaches, including technical and non-technical solutions.

Source: NDO

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