Wang Eng Eng, Channel NewsAsia 25 Feb 10;
SINGAPORE: Singapore will play host to a bigger gathering of over 1,000 delegates and speakers at the World Cities Summit in the middle of the year. They include ministers, governors, mayors, experts and business leaders.
From the urban metropolis like Tokyo to a city-state like Singapore, half of the world's population call them home. This population is expected to increase and add to the challenges of securing food, water and energy.
Against this backdrop, the delegates will come together at Suntec City's convention centre to discuss "Liveable and Sustainable Cities for the Future".
Andrew Tan, director, Centre for Liveable Cities, said: "Cities come here and learn from one another. There is no single city that can provide all single solutions, but each city, by featuring or showcasing those aspects they have successfully implemented, whether it's cities like Freiburg in terms of solar energy or Tokyo for greening the spaces."
The summit, from June 28 to July 1, will also serve as the stage for the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize. Close to 80 nominations from 32 countries have been received.
It recognises individuals or groups which have implemented innovative initiatives to tackle challenges faced by urban cities.
Cheong Koon Hean, CEO, Urban Redevelopment Authority, said: "For us, we are looking at the type of urban solutions that will try to make cities more liveable and sustainable. More importantly, it's to find the best practices which can be replicable to many cities."
The summit, which is held once every two years, is jointly organised by the Centre for Liveable Cities and Singapore's Civil Service College. - CNA/vm
Large turnout expected at World Cities Summit 2010
Mustafa Shafawi, Channel NewsAsia 25 Feb 10;
SINGAPORE: A large turnout is expected at the second edition of World Cities Summit (WCS), taking place here in late June.
Over 1,000 delegates - comprising ministers, mayors and business leaders - are expected to attend. Asian Development Bank president Haruhiko Kuroda and UN-Habitat executive director Anna Tibaijuka are among the delegates.
The delegates will address issues on the practical aspects of city governance and integrated approaches to urban development, under the summit's theme of "Liveable and Sustainable Cities for the Future".
This year's summit will also serve as the stage for the inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, for which close to 80 nominations from 32 countries were received.
Cheong Koon Hean, chief executive officer of URA and a member of the prize nominating committee, said many of the submissions are of a high calibre.
The submissions offer innovative solutions and best practices that other cities can learn from in order to create vibrant and liveable cities.
The summit is jointly organised by the Centre for Liveable Cities and Singapore's Civil Service College.
- CNA/sc
