AIT Professor: Forum inspires regional cooperation and urban innovation

At the opening ceremony of the 2025 Shenzhen Low-Carbon Forum on Oct. 28, Professor Vilas Nitivattananon from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok spoke passionately about Shenzhen’s pioneering role in sustainable urban development and its growing international influence.

Professor Vilas Nitivattananon (3rd R) during a high-level discussion at the opening ceremony of the Shenzhen Low-Carbon Forum on Oct. 28. Liu Xudong

“I think it’s quite interesting that Shenzhen is now moving from the national level to the international stage,” said Prof. Nitivattananon after participating in a high-level round-table discussion on “The Collaborative Path for Green Transition in the Asia-Pacific Region: From Policy Innovation to Technological Implementation.” 

“It’s what I call an inside-out development — Shenzhen has grown rapidly with strong national and partner support, and now it’s becoming a showcase for the world.”

He described the forum as “inspiring, motivating, and facilitating long-term partnerships,” praising its role in connecting governments, academics, and industries across regions.

“This could be a good opportunity for academic collaboration and knowledge exchange,” he said. “I hope we can develop more partnerships with forum partners — not only Shenzhen, but also UNESCAP, European organizations, and others — to help cities in Southeast Asia achieve success in low-carbon and green development.”

Prof. Nitivattananon, who has spent decades researching urban resilience, waste management, and circular economy systems, believes Shenzhen can serve as a model megacity for others across Asia.

“Shenzhen can be a very good example — a megacity model,” he explained. “Other large metropolitan regions like Jakarta, Dhaka, Manila, and Bangkok are following similar paths. They can learn from Shenzhen’s experience in policies, partnerships, transportation, energy management, and waste management.”

He also noted that emerging technologies, particularly AI and big data, could play an increasingly flexible role in supporting urban systems. “AI is becoming more diversified,” he said. “Its application depends on good data — something that smaller cities still struggle with.”

He expressed optimism about the direction of regional cooperation. “Shenzhen’s rapid development is a powerful example,” he said. “Its experience can inspire cities across Asia to build more resilient, low-carbon urban futures — not just through technology, but through collaboration and shared learning.”