(VOVWORLD) -The governors and mayors of capital cities of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have vowed to promote close partnership and comprehensive cooperation for the development of smart, resilient and sustainable cities in the region, according to the Phnom Penh Declaration.
 In Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Photo: AFP) |
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.
Under the declaration, they emphasized the importance of city-to-city cooperation in unlocking the potential of cooperation projects for all parties and their respective supporting partners.
They recognized 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.
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.
Leaders pledged 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.