Prof. Dr. Akinori MORIMOTO President, City Planning Institute of Japan Professor, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University

Dear President Tran Ngoc Chinh of Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, President Chan Ho Kim of Korea Planning Association, President Jen-Te Pai of Taiwan Institute of Urban Planning, distinguished guests, all participants, on behalf of the City Planning Institute of Japan, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who involved for organizing the 2023 International Conference of Asian-Pacific Planning Societies in Da Nang City.

It is a great pleasure to meet you all face-to-face at the venue for the first time in four years. Although the effects of COVID-19 have not disappeared, we are gradually returning to our previous daily life and urban activities.

The main theme of the conference is “Preservation and promotion planning of the values of historical cities in the new context”. In July of this year, the G7 Cities Ministerial Meeting was held in Japan for the first time.　 Discussions focused on the theme of “Achieving Sustainable Urban Development Together,” specifically on the three themes of “Net Zero, Resilience,” “Inclusive,” and “Digital.” In the communiqué, the value of historical cities, which is the main theme of this symposium, is described as respecting “the important role that long-established landscapes and heritage preservation play in overall urban development.

While reaffirming the value of urban greenery and waterfront space, planning for a higher quality city is required. I hope that this symposium will share many insights with the participants in order to develop the city into a sustainable city while enhancing people’s wellbeing.

Finally, I would like to express my respect again to all those who have prepared for the face-to-face international conference and wish all participants a pleasant time. Thank you very much./.