The 13^th Asian-Pacific City Summit (APCS 2021) is going virtual on October 26 and 27, 2021 with the participation of delegates from 38 cities, including Da Nang and the northern city of Hai Phong.

Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh addresses the ongoing APCS 2021

Speaking at the opening session on Tuesday, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh affirmed a pleasure for Da Nang to join APCS 2021. The central Vietnamese city is now looking forward to seeking cooperation opportunities with cities and partners in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming time.

Themed ‘The potential of cities in the face of crises’, APCS 2021 is jointly hosted by the Japanese city of Fukuoka and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP)-Fukuoka.

The Special Edition of the APCS focuses on urban development in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as serious urban problems caused by the pandemic and delays in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event’s organisers aim to expand the network of the APCS by encouraging the participation of a wider variety of stakeholders than ever before, including city leaders, international organizations, and private companies with expert knowledge.

APCS highlights many discussion sessions in 2 days of working, focusing on issues of deep concern related to urban development during COVID-19 namely: New Trends in Urban Policy Development Responding to the New Normal, Innovation for Improving Citizens’ Living Condition to Leave No One Left Behind, Toward Achieving a Carbon Neutral Society and Sustainable Tourism in the New Era.

According to Mr. Takashima Soichiru, Mayor of Fukuoka City, Japan, this event serves as an opportunity to review the potential of cities amid COVID-19 in the fields of economy and tourism.

Mr. Koresawa Atsushi from the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific expressed that cities in the region are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19 and climate change, and witnessing the impacts of extreme weather change like today to socio-economic activities and human life.

UN-Habitat and cities in the region will together overcome these challenges, towards sustainable development, especially in the implementation of the UN’s SDGs.

Reportedly, the Da Nang leaders delivered speeches at a discussion session on Tuesday noon themed ‘Sustainable Tourism in the New Era’

Reporting by THU HA - HOANG HIEP – Translating by A. THU