Hanoi's chairman has reaffirmed that people must remain at the centre of all urban development policies as ASEAN city leaders gathered in the Vietnamese capital.
On the afternoon of June 8, as part of the ASEAN Future Forum, the ASEAN Cities Leadership Conference, co-hosted by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee, took place with the participation of governors, mayors and city leaders from across Southeast Asia.
Addressing the conference, Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang stressed that the Vietnamese capital continues to cherish its rich historical legacy and distinctive cultural identity.
"We are making strong efforts to build a greener, smarter, more modern and more liveable city," Vu Dai Thang said.
Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang addresses the conference.
Hanoi has identified digital transformation as a key driver of development. The city is advancing the construction of digital government, a digital economy and a digital society, while applying artificial intelligence, big data and other advanced technologies to improve urban governance, provide more convenient public services and create a better environment for both residents and businesses.
"We consistently maintain that technology only has real value when it serves people. Citizens must be the centre, the driving force and the beneficiaries of every urban development policy. This is also one of the core principles shared by ASEAN cities," he said.
Thang added that Hanoi remains committed to promoting green growth, strengthening climate resilience, developing sustainable transportation systems, expanding green spaces and preserving cultural values throughout the modernisation process.
According to the Hanoi leader, ASEAN's future will be shaped by its cities, where resources, knowledge, technology and aspirations for innovation converge. No city can achieve sustainable development in isolation from regional cooperation networks. Strengthening connectivity among ASEAN cities, sharing governance experiences, promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation, encouraging innovation and fostering people-to-people exchanges are therefore essential to building collective regional strength, he noted.
Speaking at the conference, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc said Vietnam's urban development experience demonstrates that digital transformation, green growth and regional connectivity are not separate objectives but mutually reinforcing pillars aimed at improving people's quality of life and enhancing resilience to future challenges.
The deputy prime minister emphasised the importance of creating resilient, people-centred cities. ASEAN urban centres, he said, need to move from a reactive mindset to a proactive approach to the future, shifting from solving isolated problems toward building comprehensive ecosystems capable of withstanding development challenges.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc speaks at the conference.
He also highlighted the need to establish stronger knowledge-sharing and innovation networks among ASEAN cities. One of the bloc's greatest strengths, he noted, lies in the diversity of its urban development models and experiences.
Pham Gia Tuc expressed confidence that, through a spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility, ASEAN cities would continue strengthening connectivity, exchanging experiences and jointly creating new growth drivers that contribute to a resilient, sustainable and people-centred ASEAN Community.
"That spirit should spread even more strongly, beginning here in Hanoi today," he said.
Respecting the uniqueness of every city
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn delivers a recorded message.
In a recorded message to the conference, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn stressed that a smart city is not merely about applying advanced technologies. Above all, it must be a model of people-centred development.
Technology and innovation, he said, should serve as tools to address urban challenges such as traffic congestion, environmental pollution, social inequality and the impacts of climate change.
Cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have actively implemented smart city projects, contributing to the realisation of ASEAN's sustainable urbanisation strategy.
Kao Kim Hourn noted that smart and sustainable urban development is also a key priority under the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. To achieve this goal, ASEAN must strengthen multi-level cooperation mechanisms, expand digital connectivity between urban and rural areas, share experiences, provide technical support and mobilise investment resources.
The ASEAN Cities Leadership Conference.
He also emphasised the importance of respecting the distinct characteristics of each locality and designing solutions tailored to local realities to ensure long-term effectiveness and sustainability.
During the discussion session, Aung Naing Thu, Chief Minister of the Yangon Region of Myanmar, observed that ASEAN cities are facing increasingly severe climate risks. Rapid urbanisation has placed growing pressure on Yangon through land-use changes, population growth and rising vulnerability to natural disasters.
He argued that urban planning should adopt an integrated approach that combines green infrastructure, data-driven climate governance, disaster-resilient planning and stronger links between local action and regional vision.
Delegates attend the conference.
Sharing specific measures, Yangon officials said the city is expanding and maintaining parks, green spaces and public recreational areas to improve quality of life for densely populated urban communities. These spaces are also designed to serve as emergency shelters during natural disasters.
Meanwhile, Hoang Minh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People's Committee, said the northern port city aims to become ASEAN's leading smart logistics and seaport hub, while also aspiring to be one of Vietnam's foremost smart cities.
Hai Phong views science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as strategic drivers for sustaining economic growth, improving governance efficiency and enhancing competitiveness, he said.
The city has developed a high-quality digital infrastructure with extensive 5G coverage, an urban data ecosystem and a network of 116 public administrative service centres, where nearly all administrative procedures are processed online.
Hai Phong is also gradually deploying artificial intelligence in traffic management, urban security monitoring and traffic violation enforcement, while fostering innovation ecosystems and technology start-ups.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
