PHNOM PENH, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The governors and mayors of capital cities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday vowed to promote close partnership and comprehensive cooperation for the development of smart, resilient and sustainable cities in the region, according to a Phnom Penh Declaration.
The declaration was issued after the Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals 2022, which was convened in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh under the chairmanship of Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng.
The governors and mayors "emphasize the importance of city-to-city cooperation in unlocking the potential of cooperation projects for all parties and their respective supporting partners," it said.
They "recognize the necessity to build up more resilient, sustainable, and smarter cities that are not only able to absorb, recover and prepare for unforeseen shocks but ones that are innovative and environmentally-friendly, within the context of COVID-19 recovery, climate change and uncertainty," it added.
The city leaders also agreed to strengthen their commitment to achieving a smart, resilient and sustainable community that is economically competitive, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible, by fully implementing the pilot projects of ASEAN Smart Cities Network, the declaration said.
It added that those projects will be focused on civic and social, health and well-being, safety and security, quality environment, infrastructure, and industry and innovation.
They encouraged active engagement of citizens in respective ASEAN capitals by equipping them with technological and digital skills and literacy, promoting green start-ups, and fostering a sense of community ownership, the declaration said.
They also agreed to utilize effective and innovative technologies to solve urban security problems such as security of water, food and energy, data privacy and security, transportation connectivity and logistics, and human resettlement planning and management, among others, it added.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the meeting earlier in the day, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said cities are the hearts of countries and regions, and they are places for all kinds of activities, particularly socio-economics, culture and politics.
"In this sense, the socio-economic development and the building of a strong, sustainable and inclusive community must begin with the building and connecting of smart, resilient and sustainable cities," he said.
"Smart cities have great potentials in addressing common issues of urban planning in an innovative way, strengthening resilience to various risks, and especially improving the well-being and prosperity of the livelihoods of local people in a new normal," he added.
Hun Sen said that ensuring peace, security, stability and prosperity is the main and most important foundation for building smart, resilient and sustainable cities.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
