Annual National Planning Conference Held in Wuhan: Over 100 Academic Dialogues Focusing on the Development and Future of Urban Planning

Being hosted by the Urban Planning Society of China (UPSC) and the Wuhan Municipal People's Government, the Annual National Planning Conference 2022/2023 was held in the Wuhan International Expo Center between September 23 and 25. This conference focus on the theme of ‘People's Cities, Energized by Planning’. The Annual National Planning Conference is an academic summit and event with great influence, high academic level, and wide participation in China's urban planning industry. It provides a platform for the display and exchange of new academic achievements in China's planning field. 

This year's conference was attended by more than 7,000 delegates from all over the country. Ni Hong, Party Secretary and Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Wang Zhonglin, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Hubei Province, delivered a speech respectively. Michal Mlynar, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and Petro Elisey, President of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), delivered speeches via video at the conference. Wang Jinzhan, Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), also delivered a speech. Bai Demao, Qi Kang, Xie Ninggao, Zhang Jinqiu, and Chen Bingzhao were given the Lifetime Achievement Award of UPSC. The National Award for Innovation and Pioneering and the Leading Talent Award, the Young Talent Award, and the Award for Scientific and Technological Advancement of UPSC were presented by leaders of the ministry and province to the winners.

Shi Nan, Secretary General of UPSC, interpreted the theme of the conference, emphasizing the important concept of ‘People's Cities’ and the role of planning in realising ‘People's Cities’. On September 23, ten experts and scholars from the fields of urban planning, construction, and governance were invited to make keynote speech on urban governance, public services, law on the barrier-free environment, architectural quality, real 3D China, planning responsibility, urban planning, big country and big city, planning needs and practice, urban regeneration, etc., to give advice and suggestions for the planning and construction in China. Also, the conference announced the selection results of major scientific problems, engineering and technical problems, and industrial technology problems in the planning field during 2022 and 2023, as well as achievements and progress in the construction of scientists’ spirit education base, 922 green travel activities, etc. The conference then announced that the Annual National Planning Conference 2024 will be hosted in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province. 

From the September 24 to 25, 108 academic forums and special dialogues were organized, focusing on the latest research in the planning field, including five local theme forums of ‘Metropolitan Area Planning Under the Goal of Integration’, ‘Digital Twin City and Intelligent Planning’, ‘People-Oriented Transportation, Intelligent Driving’, ‘Human-Water Coexistence, a Discussion About Yangtze River Protection’, and ‘Climate Change and Climate-Adapted City Response’. 

Additionally, the conference suggested 12 thematic research routes and 17 spots for self-guided tour experience to provide opportunities for the delegates to carry out surveys and experience the development and change of Wuhan in person. These destinations include the most popular scenic spot of Wuhan – Yellow Crane Tower, and Zhongshan Road, Lihuangpi Road, Tanhualin, as well as routes with special topics, such as red culture, industrial heritage, and rural revitalization.

Source: <https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/k7iL0gJ9BbSeN7ls0Xnmcw>

Edited by Liang Xiuchun