ASEAN experts expect Hanoi to lead new smart city wave

Hanoi is positioning itself as a leader in a new wave of smart urban development across Southeast Asia. City leaders and representatives from various ASEAN nations gathered for a conference focused on sharing experiences and forging new cooperation models to tackle shared challenges and leverage opportunities from the digital revolution.

During the meeting, Hanoi's leadership emphasized the city's commitment to building a digital government, economy, and society. The focus is on applying technology to enhance urban governance, improve public services, and create a better environment for citizens and businesses. Hanoi's Mayor, Vũ Đại Thắng, stated that the capital city consistently places its people at the center of all urban development policies, a principle echoed by other ASEAN cities.

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this is a forum for cities to share experiences, exchange initiatives, and build new cooperation models to solve common challenges and effectively exploit opportunities from the fourth industrial revolution and the digital age.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc highlighted the critical juncture ASEAN is facing, with increasing global strategic competition and rapid technological advancements. He stressed the need for enhanced self-reliance within the bloc, stating that cities cannot operate in isolation but must collaborate to address common challenges. "ASEAN has always been a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy," Túc remarked, reaffirming Vietnam's dedication to a prosperous, inclusive, and people-centered regional community.

Discussions also centered on citizen-centric urban initiatives, the use of technology for efficient governance, and building climate-resilient cities. Experts noted that the conference marks a significant first step for Vietnam in driving the smart city agenda within the region.

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ASEAN has always been a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy. More than 30 years after joining ASEAN, with a proactive and responsible spirit, we are always ready to cooperate closely with member states to build a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable community centered on the people.