On 15th Nov, 2013, Sino-European Urbanization Collaboration Seminar organized by Intelligent Urbanization Co-creation Center for High Density Region commenced in Tongji University. Participants consist of experts and delegates from European academies, including Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, German Academy of Science and Engineering and The Netherlands Academy of Engineering, European universities, including Technical University of Berlin, Chalmers University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology,  Polytechnic of Milano and Sapienza University of Rome, and partner cities of CIUC, including Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Anhui and Shenyang. The unveiling ceremony of Sino-European Urbanization Collaboration Center was also held in this event. This center is established to push forward Sino-European partnership in the field of urbanization and to target at key issues in the process of intelligent urbanization.

 

Prof. Klaus TÖPFER, former Under-Secretary-General of UN, former Executive Director of UNEP and Executive Director of Institute for Advanced Sustainable Studies, delivered the keynote speech, and later unveiled the signboard of the Center with Prof. PEI Gang, President of Tongji University, Prof. WU Zhiqiang, Director of Intelligent Urbanization Co-creation Center for High Density Region and Vice President of Tongji University, Prof. Lars REUTERSWÄRD, former Executive Director, Global Division, UN Habitat and vice Chancellor of Chalmers of University of Technology. Mr. ZHUGE Yujie, Governor of Yangpu District, Mr. ZHANG Aiping, Vice Chair of Shanghai Pudong Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and Ms CAI Yan, Under Sectretary-General, CPC Lanxi City gave remarks for the seminar.

 

Prof. WU Zhiqiang proposes in his speech that, China is the biggest developing country undergoing the most rapid urbanization in the world, while EU is the most advanced economy that pioneers in the fields of industrialization and urbanization. China and Europe have things to learn from each other in this sense.  The commitment of Sino-European Urbanization Collaboration Center will focus on the healthy urbanization process that includes elements of “intensive, intelligent, green and low-carbon”. The Center, with joint power of experts and institutes in China and Europe, will target at key issues in sustainable development of smart cities, and bring forth new backbone researchers and leaders in the field of urbanization, thus turning into a world top co-creation platform and national think-tank for theoretical, technical, decision-making and talents support for the enforcement of new intelligent urbanization in China. Sino-European Urbanization Collaboration Center, as the platform of CIUC for international exchange, will emphasize on the academic collaboration, science advancing, and education exchanges in the field of urbanization.

 

The Seminar on 15th is themed “Chinese urban future: European Insights”. Seminar speakers are experts in spheres of urban planning, green building, new energy and information technology, include: Mr. Willem A.J. Mandersloot, academician, Netherlands Academy of Engineering and business line manager of TNO, Ms Jeanette WHYTE, Chief Researcher of Expert Group, EU-China Smart City program, and Prof. Rudolf Giffinger， Head of Centre of Urban and Regional Research, Vienna University of Technology. Discussions are developed on the mode, institutions and challenges for future Sino-European collaboration in urbanization and fundamental agreements are achieved for mutual long-term cooperation. （CISSY）