Five students of the Discovery Program for Global Learners (GDP) at Okayama University attended the 7th ASEAN-Japan Smart Cities Network High Level Meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in Takamatsu, Kagawa, on November 10, 2025. The meeting brought together government officials, urban development experts, and private-sector representatives from ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, and Japan to discuss initiatives for realizing smart cities with a focus on inclusivity.

This annual meeting, held since 2019, aims to strengthen cooperation between Japan and ASEAN in smart city development. This year’s theme, “Inclusivity,” highlighted successful smart city initiatives and explored the drivers behind their achievements. The program began with keynote speeches, followed by plenary sessions and panel discussions featuring delegates from ASEAN countries on topics such as disaster resilience and people-centered design.

As student coordinators, the GDP students attended the sessions in the section reserved for stakeholders and participated in the public-private business-matching session, which connected ASEAN ministry representatives with Japanese companies offering technologies in urbanization, transportation, waste management, and smart infrastructure. The students were assigned to support the delegates from ASEAN countries by facilitating communication with Japanese companies during the session.

Fourth-year student Nguyen Kha Manh reflected, “At first, we were unsure how much we could contribute, especially with so many high-level participants and technical discussions. However, being able to attend such a high-level meeting and witness firsthand how regional collaboration takes shape was a rare and valuable opportunity. We did our best to serve as a bridge between ASEAN and Japan.”

Through the meeting, the students also learned about numerous projects in which Japanese companies collaborate with international development agencies such as JICA to address urban challenges in developing countries, including urban flooding, waste treatment, traffic congestion, and spatial monitoring. The experience deepened their understanding of the importance of cross-border dialogue and the value of international cooperation in creating a more resilient future.

They expressed their gratitude to MLIT for providing such a valuable opportunity and shared their hopes of applying the knowledge and experiences gained at the meeting to their future studies.