Improved air quality in Southeast Asian cities is a welcome development but can only be sustained in the long term with further reforms. Making cities greener and pedestrian-friendly, and promoting energy-efficient buildings now, can ensure a healthier future.
China has a lot to offer the ambitious Asean Smart City Network project and has pledged to share its experience and technology. But the rise of anti-China sentiment in Asean over South China Sea tensions and unpopular Mekong dam projects may hinder cooperation.