Vietnam sends 3 cities to join ASEAN Smart Cities Network

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the plenary session of the 32nd ASEAN Summit. Photo: Organizing Committee

On the evening of April 27, at the Singapore Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of ASEAN countries attended the plenary session of the 32nd ASEAN Summit chaired by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

At this event, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared about the theme of ASEAN cooperation in 2018, aiming to build a resilient and innovative ASEAN. Accordingly, ASEAN countries will jointly implement the cooperation orientations stated in the ASEAN Leaders' Vision Statement on a Resilient and Innovative ASEAN, establish the ASEAN Smart Cities Network and enhance cooperation on cybersecurity.

The leaders expressed their support for the theme of ASEAN 2018, emphasizing the importance of ASEAN's spirit of self-reliance and creativity. The leaders also said that this is the basis for ASEAN's steady development over the past half century. In particular, this will be a solid foundation for the Association to continue moving forward in the context of the rapidly changing and complex regional and international situation along with new opportunities being opened with the 4.0 industrial revolution.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the plenary session. Photo: Organizing Committee

In addition, the countries had in-depth discussions on directions to promote ASEAN cooperation and connectivity in many priority areas. Accordingly, it is necessary to focus on strengthening intra-bloc economic, trade and investment cooperation, expanding regional economic connectivity and cooperation with partners, continuing efforts to facilitate the business environment and support small and medium enterprises, start-ups, etc. to develop, promote connectivity and narrow the development gap in the region.

The leaders also agreed to further promote people-oriented cooperation through enhancing the capacity to respond to challenges from terrorism, transnational crime, ensuring cyber security, investing in education, encouraging dynamic development of young people, supporting the elderly, etc.

Highlighting innovation-based development, the leaders said that ASEAN needs to make the most of the benefits brought by the fourth industrial revolution by promoting the application of new technologies, especially in developing the digital economy, expanding e-commerce, improving people's access to information, and forming smart cities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and ASEAN leaders at the plenary session. Photo: Organizing Committee

Sharing his views with ASEAN leaders, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated the themes and priorities proposed by the 2018 ASEAN Chair. The Prime Minister affirmed that ASEAN’s collective resilience needs to be nurtured and promoted across all three pillars, in which maintaining ASEAN’s solidarity, unity and central role is of key importance.

The Prime Minister also said that effectively promoting creativity will be a lever to increase ASEAN's self-reliance. On this occasion, the Prime Minister announced that Vietnam will send three leading cities, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, to participate in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network initiative.

The Prime Minister invited ASEAN leaders to attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF-ASEAN) to be held in Vietnam in September 2018.

On April 28, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will join ASEAN leaders in attending the opening session and retreat session of the 32nd ASEAN Summit.