Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. We have just concluded a very insightful plenary session on the way forward for cities in addressing the challenges of developing liveable and vibrant cities. Let me just say a few words to conclude what I feel is a very successful run of the inaugural World Cities Summit and summarise some of the key highlights of the Summit.

2. In the past two days, some 700 distinguished city leaders, thought leaders, and senior officials from both public and private sectors have gathered here to discuss and exchange ideas on how cities can develop in a manner that allows for economic vibrancy, high quality of living and yet maintain harmony with the environment.

3. We have heard from city practitioners on how good governance is key to the long-term success of implementing sustainable development policies and measures in cities. At the break-out sessions, delegates discussed and shared best practices in the areas of urban planning and infrastructure development, environmental management, conservation and how cities are going about addressing climate change. Many of you would also have had the opportunity to learn more about Singapore’s experience in applying sustainable development principles to the planning and development of our city-state through the various site visits that were conducted.

4. I am happy to report that the East Asia Summit Conference on Liveable Cities, held in conjunction with the World Cities Summit, also concluded positively with members agreeing on the need for greater demonstration of political will to tackle the challenges of energy security, climate change and sustainable development. EAS members have also agreed to promote greater cooperation and collaboration on these areas following the conference.

5. As delegates would have realized from this Summit, the imperative for sustainable development has never been stronger. This is especially so in the developing world and in Asia where cities are grappling to cope with the blight associated with rapid urbanization. The challenges are complex and there are no cookie cutter solutions given the diversity of cities. Despite these differences, there are commonalities and universal best practices that can be adapted and applied.

6. The World Cities Summit and East Asia Summit Conference Liveable Cities can thus serve as an informal network of cities to share experiences, exchange best practices and ideas on tackling climate change, energy efficiency and sustainable development. Future conferences will build upon the discussions held in Singapore. The interactions and valuable links forged at this Summit should continue. Singapore will facilitate the development of this network through international conferences, workshops and pilot projects in collaboration with other cities, institutions and international organizations. It is with continued engagement and collaboration that we can strive to achieve economically vibrant and resource efficient cities that provide our residents with a high quality living environment.

7. Through this Summit, think-tanks and organizations like Singapore’s recently established Centre for Liveable Cities can work with cities to facilitate the cross-sharing of expertise and best practices in the areas of urban sustainable development and liveable cities. At this point, it would be remiss of me not to express my appreciation to the strategic and supporting partners of this conference.

8. Finally, I hope that you have had a very fruitful time at the inaugural World Cities Summit and forged invaluable links that will take discussions on sustainable development and liveability of cities beyond this Summit. To our overseas guests, I hope your brief stay in Singapore has been both a pleasant and useful one. I wish you a safe journey home. Thank you.

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