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August 1, 2025 — Countries must set aside domestic silos and work hand-in-hand to design cities that are not only future-ready but also genuinely liveable for their residents, said Singapore’s Minister for National Development, Chee Hong Tat, during the 4th ASEAN-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Speaking at the meeting on Saturday, Chee framed urban development as a shared global challenge that no single nation can tackle alone. The two-day roundtable, themed “Sustainable Cities, Quality Housing, Cohesive Communities,” attracted housing and construction officials from across Southeast Asia and China, with participants exchanging ideas on how town planning, building design, and housing policies can shape resilient, inclusive urban environments.
In a Facebook post published after the session, Chee underscored that collaboration must move beyond mere knowledge-sharing into concrete co-creation. He pointed to the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City—a long-running bilateral partnership between Singapore and China—as a living example. “The Tianjin Eco-City shows how countries can go beyond exchanging ideas to actually co-creating solutions that benefit businesses and people,” Chee wrote. The eco-city, now in its second decade, integrates green buildings, smart energy grids, and waste-to-resource systems, serving as a test bed for urban innovations that could be scaled across the region.
Chee stressed that at the regional level, ASEAN and China must continue to strengthen ties in mutual-interest areas such as affordable housing, construction technology, and climate-resilient infrastructure. He noted that platforms like the World Cities Summit—which brings together city leaders from across the globe—offer invaluable opportunities for peer learning and benchmarking. “Every city faces its own constraints, but we can all learn from one another’s successes and setbacks,” he said. The World Cities Summit, organized by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities, has become a premier venue for mayors, planners, and industry experts since its launch in 2008.
Chee’s four-day working visit to Malaysia, which runs through August 2, also included a meeting with the roundtable’s host and co-convener, Malaysia’s Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming. The two leaders reaffirmed a shared ambition to enhance urban liveability. According to Chee, they discussed deepening mutual learning in housing policy, landscape design, construction technology, and urban planning and renewal. “Singapore and Malaysia are close friends, and there are many areas we can learn from each other and collaborate for mutual benefit,” Chee noted after the meeting.
On the sidelines of the roundtable, Chee also met with China’s Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ni Hong. The two exchanged views on broadening bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on the next phase of the Tianjin Eco-City. Discussions touched on integrating smart city technologies, scaling green building standards, and expanding pilot projects into other Chinese cities.
Earlier on July 30, Chee held separate discussions with Malaysia’s Economy Minister Akmal Nasir and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hannah Yeoh. With Akmal, he explored the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ)—a cross-border initiative designed to boost trade, investment, and job creation by leveraging the proximity of Johor and Singapore. With Hannah Yeoh, Chee talked about “placemaking” as a tool to increase footfall and dynamism in public spaces, an approach that Singapore has successfully used in areas like Kampong Glam and the Civic District.
“I look forward to furthering our partnership across various fronts and working together to achieve positive outcomes for our people,” Chee said in a summary of the bilateral meetings.
Industry observers note that Chee’s call for deeper international collaboration comes at a critical juncture. Rapid urbanization, climate change, and post-pandemic shifts in how people live and work are straining existing city models. Singapore, often cited for its integrated public housing system and green building certifications (BCA Green Mark), offers a proven blueprint. Yet Chee emphasized that no single country holds all the answers.
“We will continue to work closely with China, fellow ASEAN member states, and other international counterparts, to build cities that both our current and future generations will be proud to call home,” he said.
The roundtable also saw presentations on affordable housing schemes in Vietnam, flood-resilient design in the Philippines, and China’s “sponge city” concept for rainwater management. Several delegates agreed to set up working groups on sustainable building materials and cross-border data sharing for urban planning.
With the 5th ASEAN-China Ministerial Roundtable expected to be hosted by China in 2026, momentum is building for more actionable outcomes. The Tianjin Eco-City model is likely to be a template for future joint projects, and Singapore’s experience in developing integrated towns like Punggol Northshore (a smart and sustainable district) could offer lessons for partners.
For policymakers, investors, and urban planners, the message from Ipoh is clear: the future of liveable cities depends not on competition, but on coordinated, cross-border action.
This article is based on statements made by Minister Chee Hong Tat at the 4th ASEAN-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing, supplemented by background from the Singapore Ministry of National Development and the Centre for Liveable Cities.
