From July 5 to 8, 2024, the 18th Annual International Association of Chinese Planning (IACP) Conference was successfully held in Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University. With the theme of “Planning and Governance Changes for Sustainable Cities,” the conference attracted nearly 400 experts and scholars in urban planning and governance from 11 countries and regions to conduct extensive exchanges and in-depth discussions on new paths and strategies for sustainable urban development.
Group Photo of Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was held on July 6, chaired by Professor Shen Liyong, Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Dean of the School of Public Administration at Zhejiang University. In his welcome speech, Professor Zhou Jianghong, Vice President of Zhejiang University, emphasized the significance of building sustainable cities for global development. He pointed out that balancing economic development, environmental protection, and social equity during rapid urbanization is a pursuit shared by all humanity. Fan Jun, Deputy Chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Social Sciences, highlighted the importance of urban development as a key engine of modernization and noted Zhejiang’s significant progress in urbanization and governance. He expressed that the conference would further promote the development of urban planning research and practice in the province. Wang Jian, President and General Manager of Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute, shared the institute’s experience in focusing on planning and governance research, stating their commitment to advancing sustainable urban development.
Prof. Jianghong Zhou’s Speech
Professor Liu Zhilin, Chair of the International Association for Chinese Planning and Professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Public Administration, delivered a speech emphasizing that international exchange and cooperation effectively address global urban development challenges. She expressed hopes that the conference would foster a deeper integration of academic and practical approaches in urban planning.
Chair, Prof. Zhilin Liu’s Speech
The keynote session was moderated by Professor Shen Guoqiang, Director of the Department of Urban and Rural Planning at Zhejiang University’s School of Civil Engineering. Four guests gave presentations. Academician Wu Zhiqiang from Tongji University delivered a talk titled “AI 4 PLANNING,” analyzing the application prospects of AI in urban planning and demonstrating how AI can enhance the scientific and human-centered aspects of planning decisions. Eugenie Birch, the Nussdorf Honorary Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School of Design, gave a talk on “The SDGs Ten Years In International Association of Chinese Planners,” reviewing the progress of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focusing on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), highlighting the importance of international cooperation in achieving global sustainability goals.
Academician, Prof. Zhiqiang Wu’s Speech
Professor He Daji from the City University of Hong Kong emphasized the close relationship between urban studies and sustainable development, pointing out the importance of collaboration between planning and public administration in achieving sustainability goals. He shared recent achievements and case studies from the City University of Hong Kong, calling for stronger collaboration between academia and government to address urban development challenges through interdisciplinary research. Finally, Zhao Zhirong, Dean of the School of Public Administration at Zhejiang University, presented “Toward Urban Fiscal Resilience: A Conceptual Framework,” introducing the concept of urban fiscal resilience and discussing its research progress and application prospects. He stressed the fiscal challenges posed by urbanization and advocated for establishing resilient financial systems, proposing specific measures such as optimizing revenue structures, enhancing transparency, and strengthening risk management.
The conference’s closing ceremony took place on July 7, featuring keynote speeches, an awards ceremony, and a handover ceremony. The keynote session, moderated by Professor Liu Zhilin, included four guest speakers. Cindy Fan, Professor of Geography and Vice Provost for International Studies and Global Engagement at UCLA, provided a unique perspective on recent changes in China’s household registration system (hukou), offering fresh insights into hukou reform. Gu Hao, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Natural Resources, shared Zhejiang’s experience and reflections on the “Multiple Plans Integration” reform, offering a model for planning and management in other regions. Zhang Lei, Professor at Northeastern University and Director of the Institute of Urban and Rural Community Construction, discussed the development of urban and rural governance discipline, emphasizing a people-centered approach that prioritizes human welfare and needs in promoting efficiency and equity during urban-rural integration. Liu Zhi, Director of the Peking University-Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land Policy, deeply explored ethical issues in Chinese urban planning, stressing the importance of integrating safeguarding policies with urban planning and incorporating broader social and emotional factors into planning decisions to create harmonious and livable urban environments.
Chen Zhenhua, Associate Professor at Ohio State University and Co-Chair of IACP, moderated the conference’s closing ceremony. He expressed gratitude to the attendees, scholars, and staff. The awards ceremony, hosted by He Ying, Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and IACP board member, saw Professor Liu Zhilin, Professor Shen Qing, and Professor Zhang Ming present several awards, including the Distinguished Service Award, Rising Scholar Award, IACP Best Student Paper Award, Karen R. Polenske Best Student Paper Award, Urban Digital Transformation and Healthy City Award, and the Travel Award. During the handover ceremony, Xiamen University received the baton to host the next annual conference, pledging to uphold the values of IACP and continue fostering global exchanges in urban planning and governance.
Awards Ceremony
The successful conclusion of the 18th IACP Annual Conference not only provided a high-level platform for dialogue among global urban planning scholars but also injected new energy into promoting sustainable urban development and governance innovation. With the conclusion of this year’s conference, we look forward to witnessing more exciting developments in urban planning and governance as we collectively work toward shaping a better future for our cities.
Group Photo
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