In Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) – The governors andmayors of capital cities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) havevowed to promote close partnership and comprehensive cooperation for thedevelopment of smart, resilient and sustainable cities in the region, accordingto the Phnom Penh Declaration.
The declaration wasissued after the Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2022, which wasconvened in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh under the chairmanship of PhnomPenh Governor Khuong Sreng.
Under thedeclaration, they emphasised the importance of city-to-city cooperation inunlocking the potential of cooperation projects for all parties and theirrespective supporting partners.
They recognised thenecessity to build up more resilient, sustainable, and smarter cities that arenot only able to absorb, recover and prepare for unforeseen shocks but onesthat are innovative and environmentally-friendly, within the context ofCOVID-19 recovery, climate change and uncertainty.
The city leaders alsoagreed to strengthen their commitment to achieving a smart, resilient andsustainable community that is economically competitive, environmentallysustainable, and socially responsible, by fully implementing the pilot projectsof ASEAN Smart Cities Network, the declaration said.
It added that thoseprojects will be focused on civic and social, health and well-being, safety andsecurity, quality environment, infrastructure, and industry and innovation.
They encouragedactive engagement of citizens in respective ASEAN capitals by equipping themwith technological and digital skills and literacy, promoting green start-ups,and fostering a sense of community ownership, the declaration said.
Leaders pledged to utilise effective and innovative technologies tosolve urban security problems such as security of water, food and energy, dataprivacy and security, transportation connectivity and logistics, and humanresettlement planning and management, among others, it added./.
