China-ASEAN Smart City Cooperation & Exchange Conference Successfully Held in Nanning

On 25 June 2019, the China-ASEAN Smart City Cooperation & Exchange Conference, co-hosted by the Nanning Municipal Government and ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), was successfully held in Nanning. Ms. He Ying, Member of the Standing Committee of Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor of Nanning City, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, Ms. Zheng Mingmei, Director of Smart Low-carbon City Division of China Centre for Urban Development of the National Development and Reform Commission, Mr. Drajat Wisnu Setyawan, Director of Performance Evaluation and Capacity Building for Local Government of Ministry of Home Affairs of Indonesia, Mr. Keomany Latsamy, Director-General of ASEAN Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR, Ms. Hafizah Binti Abdullah, Deputy Director-General of ASEAN-Malaysia Secretariat of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, and Mr. Min MinZaw, Director-General of Nay Pyi Taw City Development Committee of Myanmar attended the conference among more than 100 government officials and enterprise representatives.

With the theme “ASEAN-China Smart City Cooperation in the Era of Digital Economy”, the conference presented and shared achievements and experience in the development of smart city, and discussed the top-level design, government-enterprise interaction and international cooperation in the process of smart city development, providing an important platform for mutual learning and practical cooperation in the field of smart city development.

Ms. He Ying, Vice Mayor of Nanning City, extended a warm welcome to all representatives from the ASEAN countries. She stated that according to the speech Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered at the 21st ASEAN-China Summit, China supports the building of the ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN) and may set up a platform for ASCN cooperation on the basis of the ASEAN-China Information Harbor. The study visit on “Smart Nanning” was a lively practice to deepen exchanges and mutual learning as well as cooperation and development of smart city between ASEAN and China. Nanning would continue to actively build the new smart city brand of “Nanning Mode”, while strengthening the cooperation with ASEAN countries in network infrastructure construction and other areas, to share opportunities and seek common development with cities of ASEAN countries.

Ms. Zheng Mingmei stated that the world is undergoing an unprecedented wave of “Smart Economy” development, and the digitalisation practice exemplified by smart city is changing the development course of human society profoundly. China is advancing the new Smart City building, transforming development patterns, and improving development quality. Ms. Zheng proposed the suggestions on the cooperation in ASEAN-China Smart City building: a. to encourage the exchanges and mutual learning of planning standards; b. to enhance data management and security cooperation; c. to build the Smart City partnership; d. to set up the exchange platform for Smart City; e. to carry out talents training on Smart City.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai stated that the world is undergoing a new round of industrial revolution, characterised by Internet of Things and Smart Technologies. Smart City has become a development trend and sustainable solution for future urbanization. ASEAN and China are good neighbours and partners enjoying geographical proximity, cultural affinity, and as developing countries, can fully leverage the latecomer advantages and make greater strides. The two sides should synergise efforts and put people’s interest first in smart city cooperation to achieve innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, making it a new driving force for a closer ASEAN-China partnership.

Mr. Drajat Wisnu Setyawan outlined the city building of Indonesia and its involvement in ASEAN Smart City Network. He added that Smart City is an effective approach to solve various kinds of current urban diseases by applying advanced scientific and technological means, which is beneficial to the improvement of city competitiveness and happiness of people. Mr. Drajat spoke highly of the achievements of Nanning in Smart City building and looked forward to further strengthening the relevant cooperation with Nanning. Indonesia will host the Smart City Expo & Forum 2019 this July and welcomes China’s active participation.

Mr. Keomany Latsamy stated that nowadays Smart City building in countries around the world is in the ascendant and it is important that China held this conference at the right time. ASEAN and China maintain close cooperation in political, economic, cultural and other fields. Sharing similar philosophy and policies, the two sides own broad space for cooperation. Considering ASEAN countries are at different development stages, it is important to fully respect each country’s national conditions, push forward the Smart City building in a steady matter and enhance experience exchanges and mutual learning, so as to benefit mutually from the smart development.

Big Data Development Bureau of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Nanning Municipal Development and Reform Commission outlined the development of Digital Guangxi and Smart Nanning. It is generally agreed that human society is entering the era of Smart Society, and it is a common issue faced by all countries in the world to promote urban innovation and achieve sustainable development. As ASEAN-China relations have stepped into a new stage of all-round development, with huge cooperation potential in the field of Smart City building, the two sides should go forward hand in hand to bring more benefits to people of the region.

After the conference, the delegation of officials from ASEAN countries visited the China-ASEAN Smart City Innovation Centre and Nanning Zhongguancun Innovation Demonstration Base.

On the same day, Secretary-General Chen Dehai met with Vice Mayor He Ying to exchange views on promoting cooperation in various fields between Nanning and ASEAN countries.