Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Virtual Global Cities Forum

Oct 31, 2020

At this seventh Global Cities Forum, let me wish everyone a Happy World Cities Day! 

Dynamic Urban Governance through Communities and Cities

We are holding this Forum virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 situation. Despite the pandemic, we want to celebrate community-building within our cities. Communities shape our cities, and make them more human and personable. They also make cities more resilient during crises.

During the COVID-19 crisis in Singapore, various communities stepped forward and contributed actively to the fight. Tech-savvy graduates used 3D-printing to make ‘plastic ear-guards’ which reduced medical workers’ discomfort from wearing surgical masks for long hours. Volunteers donated daily necessities to migrant workers who were quarantined in their dorms. They organised daily check-ins on the elderly to assess their health and emotional well-being. Others sewed cloth masks for low-income families and children, and raised funds to provide them with daily household necessities.

Current Urban Trends

Cities around the world are facing similar urban challenges. An increasing population density, the need to balance modernisation and heritage conservation, changing demographics, and climate change.

Exchanging knowledge with one another, and developing our capacity to handle these challenges are very important. It ensures that leaders have access to a wide range of ideas and possible solutions. They can then adapt and implement them for their local contexts, in their cities. Exchanges like today’s allow different cities across different countries, to innovate and create sustainable and inclusive development together. 

Singapore’s Collaboration with the UN-Habitat and Shanghai in Global Knowledge-Sharing

Singapore actively contributes towards global knowledge-sharing through our close working partnership with the UN-Habitat. We support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the “New Urban Agenda”. For example, by organising joint capacity development programmes for developing cities. 

International city leaders drew on global urban transformation experiences. They brainstormed with practitioners from Singapore and the UN. And developed strategies to address pressing urban issues such as affordable housing, water and waste management, and public transport. 

43 city governments in Africa and South America have participated in the programmes over the past three years. We received good feedback. I’m glad to announce that we will reaffirm our commitment with the UN-Habitat with a renewed MOU in a few days’ time.  

We have also worked with Shanghai to establish the Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council (SSCCC) in April 2019, which fosters closer cooperation between the two cities. In particular, we have been collaborating with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing, Urban-Rural Development and Management (MCHURDM) on urban governance. We have exchanged expertise, insights and ideas. 

Distilling Lessons and Insights from the Housing Experiences of Singapore and Shanghai

A high quality of life in urban cities involves ensuring good quality, yet affordable, housing. Under the SSCCC’s urban governance workgroup, Singapore and Shanghai embarked on joint research to distil important lessons from our housing experiences. Shanghai works closely with the industry to plan and develop affordable housing. This has contributed to a strong and vibrant construction industry, because they tap on the innovation and creativity of the industry.  
Singapore takes an integrated approach to urban governance and master planning. Housing estates are well-connected via public transport. They are also self-sufficient with excellent amenities and green spaces for Singaporeans to live, work and play in the same precinct.

We may have different policy and administrative frameworks. But both Singapore and Shanghai use housing to forge social bonds and a sense of ownership, through community-led efforts and by shaping public spaces. Strong, rooted communities strengthen our cities, makes them more resilient, and better able to weather uncertainty. Our key insights are distilled into a joint publication titled ‘Providing Homes for All: Insights from Singapore and Shanghai’. I’m very happy that we are able to build on our collaboration, and cement the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Singapore and Shanghai, especially in areas such as sustainable township planning and smart technologies for estate management.  

Looking Ahead

Many cities around the world are still struggling with the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will need to adjust to new ways of living, working and playing. We must therefore continue to collaborate with one another and create a more sustainable future for ourselves and the generations to come.

Conclusion

The Global Cities Forum brings together city leaders and officials to discuss how cities can progress in their journey towards sustainable urbanisation. I thank the organisers for another successful edition of the Forum. I wish everyone good health, and a fruitful Forum. 

Thank you.