Hanoi's chairman has reaffirmed that people must remain at the centre of all urban development policies as ASEAN city leaders gathered in the Vietnamese capital. On the afternoon of June 8, as part of the ASEAN Future Forum, the ASEAN Cities Leadership Conference, co-hosted by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hanoi People's Committee, took place with the participation of governors, mayors and city leaders from across Southeast Asia. Addressing the conference, Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang stressed that the Vietnamese capital continues to cherish its rich historical legacy and distinctive cultural identity. "We are making strong efforts to build a greener, smarter, more modern and more liveable city," Vu Dai Thang said. Hanoi has identified digital transformation as a key driver of development. The city is advancing the construction of digital government, a digital economy and a digital society, while applying artificial intelligence, big data and other advanced technologies to improve urban governance, provide more convenient public services and create a better environment for both residents and businesses. "We consistently maintain that technology only has real value when it serves people. Citizens must be the centre, the driving force and the beneficiaries of every urban development policy. This is also one of the core principles shared by ASEAN cities," he said. Thang added that Hanoi remains committed to promoting green growth, strengthening climate resilience, developing sustainable transportation systems, expanding green spaces and preserving cultural values throughout the modernisation process. According to the Hanoi leader, ASEAN's future will be shaped by its cities, where resources, knowledge, technology and aspirations for innovation converge. No city can achieve sustainable development in isolation from regional cooperation networks. Strengthening connectivity among ASEAN cities, sharing governance experiences, promoting economic, trade and investment cooperation, encouraging innovation and fostering people-to-people exchanges are therefore essential