The event was participated by WTA President Her Tae Jeong, representatives of Binh Duong authorities and nearly 30 presidents of universities across the world.

It offered a platform for heads of universities to meet and discuss measures to increase role of universities in research and development, thus bolstering academic and industrial cooperation and setting up start-up ecosystem.

Addressing the event, President of Binh Duong-based Eastern International University Nguyen Van Phuc said Vietnam has focused on smart city development with the collaboration of three significant factors, namely the government, businesses and universities.

At the forum, member universities of the WTA signed cooperation documents to promote the development of localities.

Binh Duong is the host of the 11th WTA General Assembly and related events from October 10 to 12. 

The province became the first location in Vietnam to be selected as an official member of the WTA, which has 106 members from 48 countries and territories. 

The WTA has been implementing collaborative projects with UNESCO towards the development of sustainable urban science and the governance of cities.-VNA