Developing smart cities one of key tasks in national digital transformation: PM

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the plenary session of the Summit (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – As an active member of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN), Vietnam has built policies and made efforts to develop smart cities, considering this one of three key tasks in the national digital transformation process, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stated.

Addressing the plenary session of the ASEAN Smart Cities Summit and Expo 2020 in Hanoi on October 22, the PM said as the Chairman of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam virtually hosted the ASCN’s 3rd conference in July, which discussed action plans to realise the building of smart cities and strengthen cooperation with partners in the spirit of an cohesive and responsive ASEAN.

Smart urban development is really "a big game" that needs to be joined by many "players" with vision and resources, towards realising the goal of happiness, comprehensive human development, environmental protection and sustainable development of urban ecosystems, the Vietnamese government leader affirmed.

Vietnam defines smart and sustainable urban development as a breakthrough direction to contribute to improving the national competitiveness, he went on.

He underlined that smart city development must be closely linked with strong information infrastructure and e-government development, towards an digital government.

It also needs to focus on promoting the added value brought about by new technologies and techniques, as well as the distinctive cultural identities of ASEAN member nations, he noted.

Besides, it is necessary to attract the strong participation of the private sector in boosting innovation and creativity, he emphasised.

The PM asked for continued promotion of scientific strategic and high-quality human resources development programmes, as well as harmoniously linking innovation and digital transformation programmes with sustainable smart city rban development orientations.

Meanwhile, head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh said developing smart cities is an important way to effectively tap opportunities brought by the fourth Industrial Revolution, towards sustainable development for each country.

The ASCN, which groups 26 member cities, is a collaborative forum among cities of the 10 ASEAN member states towards achieving common goals of smart and sustainable urban development, Binh said.

Participants to the ASEAN Smart Cities Summit and Expo 2020 focused on sharing of initiatives and experience in developing smart cities in the region, and measures to further promote regional cooperation in this field.

In the framework of the event, a number of symposiums were organised, focusing on smart urban planning and management in urbanisation and urban development strategy, development of digital infrastructure and fundamental digital technology for smart cities, development of smart services in cities serving national digital transformation process, smart energy and transportation in urbanisation and urban development.