The city of Ahmedabad will be completing 600 years of its foundation next year. Ahmedabad is perfect living heritage, said Chief Minister Narendra Modi at CEPT University on Tuesday.

The statement came close on the heels of the week-long TOI campaign to put the walled city of Ahmedabad on UNESCO's world heritage city list.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the three-day 10th international Asian Planning Schools Association (APSA) Congress at CEPT University organized by its faculty of planning & public policy.

Urging for modernization without westernization in urban planning, Shri Narendra Modi said, "In city's urban plans, focus should be on local culture and tradition. While making strides in development, Japan has maintained its heritage too. Cities, citizens and civilization should go hand in hand."

"The walled city of Ahmedabad has kept intact its basic philosophy of living with nature. Pol houses in the walled city are self-sufficient and showcase a city within a city," Modi said. At least 143 papers discussing Asian cities and the problems they face in terms of infrastructure, planning, increasing population and sustainability are part of the APSA Congress.

The Chief Minister said, "The present urban development is self-centric and exploits natural resources. The need is to create a new world order with innovative designs and concepts for sustainable development."