Singapore will continue to improve itself, says PM Lee
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore will continue to improve, so that its people can live comfortably and pleasantly.
And more than just having better physical infrastructure, it’s also about strengthening social capital.
Lee said this at Sunday’s official opening of three global events held in Singapore.
The World Cities Summit, the Singapore International Water Week and the CleanEnviro Summit are being held together for the first time – all with the common goal to promote sustainable cities of the future.
Prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore will continue to improve, so that its people can live comfortably and pleasantly. (MSN)
Building new housing estates and upgrading old ones, improving public transport with more train lines and buses, and introducing more green spaces in the city.
These are just some of the efforts made over the years to make Singapore a more liveable city.
But more than just infrastructure, a liveable city is also about its people.
“Integrating Singaporeans and newly-arrived immigrants and foreign workers, preserving ethnic harmony, building a more compassionate society… This is what we have to do to make Singapore the best home for us all, and this is what we will do year after year, continuing to improve as we raise our standards step by step,” said Lee.
Lee said such efforts to make Singapore better will not end, as the country will need to meet the public’s growing expectations.
He also noted that this transformation is not easy.
“Because it’s easy to sacrifice long-term objectives, environmental objectives or urban planning objectives, for short-term advantage. And it’s difficult to rally political support for the right choices. Enforcing planning norms is not easy, acting against polluters is equally hard, and pricing resources like water and electricity which affect the lives of millions of people is even harder,” said Lee.
Singapore’s commitment to sustainable development makes it the ideal location to exchange best practices.
Some 15,000 people are expected to attend the five-day convention. What’s on offer – the latest in water technology, high-level meetings to discuss sustainable urban development, and the sharing of best green practices from around the world.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1211027/1/.html
Category: Singapore
