During their working trip to Japan, the Da Nang authorities representative group, led by Vice Chairman of municipal People's Committee Tran Van Mien attended the 12^th Asian-Pacific City Summit (APCS) in Fukuoka City from 1 to 3 August.

The participating delegates posing for a group photo at the 12th Asian-Pacific City Summit

Taking ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ as its theme, in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the centerpiece of the 2030 Agenda, the summit aimed at seeking urban solutions through measures such as inter-city collaboration.

The 2030 Agenda listed SDGs consisting of 17 goals and 169 targets in order to eradicate poverty, and realise a sustainable world. SDGs are universal goals applicable, to both developing and developed countries, and pledge “No One is Left Behind” through the implementation process.

In attendance at this event were representatives from a total of 36 cities in 18 countries in the region, including the Vietnamese cities of Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

At the summit, the participating delegates underlined the important role of the cities in creating a momentum for their economic growth in order to achieve their sustainable development goals.

In the context of globalisation, information technology and the internet being constantly thriving, cities, international organisations and the business community need to make innovations, create closer connections, and share practical experiences in an effort to address a number of social and environmental challenges arising in the process of urbanisation, and establish new global networks.

APCS has been held every other year since 1994, as a forum where leaders of Asian-Pacific region can get together and have exchanges of opinions in a candid manner. The purpose of the summit is to promote friendship and mutual cooperation in this region toward solution of urban problems, and network-building for further development of Asian cities.

To realise the objectives of the summit, the Working Level Conference between those persons working at the front line of urban administration, has been held in the year following each summit, beginning in 1995.