第二十届国际中国规划学会（IACP）年会

The closing ceremony of the 19th Annual Conference of the International Association for China Planning (IACP) was successfully held at the Science and Art Center of Xiamen University. Co-organized by the International Association for China Planning (IACP) and Xiamen University, and hosted by the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xiamen University, the conference attracted nearly 450 scholars and experts from 86 renowned universities and research institutions worldwide to jointly discuss the future blueprint for sustainable urban development. Under the theme “Culture, Resilience, and Inclusion: Envisioning New Opportunities for Planning”, the conference deeply explored cutting-edge topics in urban planning and governance, aiming to advance innovative practices and theoretical research in global urbanization and demonstrating the vitality and collaborative spirit of the academic community.

The closing ceremony consisted of three segments: keynote speeches, award presentations, and the flag handover ceremony. Professor Zhilin Liu, President of IACP and Professor at Tsinghua University, served as moderator, reviewing highlights and outcomes of the conference and underscoring the importance of academic exchange and collaboration. Professor Mildred Warner of Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning delivered a keynote speech titled “Aging: Shifting paradigms for economy, society and planning”, focusing on aging societies and proposing paradigm shifts—reframing aging as an opportunity for transformation—to guide planning and economic policy and offering reference value for China’s response to population aging. Through age-friendly design, she advocated inclusive social development and proposed diverse solutions. Professor Eddie Hui, Head and Professor of the Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong, presented on “Intercity talent flow and the evolution of urban technological diversification”, examining the relationship between talent mobility and urban innovation through urban network theory, highlighting the critical role of talent and technology in urban innovation, providing guidance for urban planning and policy formulation, and laying groundwork for future expansion of global talent databases. Professor Kai Wang, President of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design and Vice President of the Urban Planning Society of China, delivered a keynote speech on “Background, Policies, and Operational Requirements of Urban Renewal”. He elaborated on urban renewal from three dimensions: background and significance; methodologies and tasks; innovations and practices—arguing that urban renewal is both an inevitable choice aligned with China’s urbanization laws and a vital initiative to stimulate investment, expand domestic demand, stabilize growth, promote development, and meet people’s aspirations for a better life. Furthermore, he emphasized precise problem assessment, meticulous spatial design, and careful operational maintenance, advocating tiered implementation at city, district, and project levels. Sustainable urban renewal also requires building a governance system integrating government guidance, market operation, and public participation, a process still underway. Associate Professor Ruoxi Zhang, Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Xiamen University, focused on “The culture, resilience and inclusion in the urban community regeneration in Xiamen”, introducing the urban renewal journey of Shapowei in Xiamen. She noted that early top-down, development-oriented renewal—driven by economic returns—led to projects like the World Trade Twin Towers disrupting local cultural continuity and triggering public resistance. Later, under the “co-construction” philosophy, workshops were established to engage residents and diverse groups, fishery history was documented and heritage objects preserved, and abandoned factories were transformed into art districts—yielding a collaborative model involving government, market, and residents, harmonizing tradition and modernity, and offering a practice-based case balancing cultural preservation and social governance for urban community renewal.

After the keynote speeches, Professor Zhenhua Chen, Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, Chair of the Conference Committee, and newly elected IACP President, moderated the formal closing ceremony, expressing gratitude to all guests, presenters, and staff. The awards segment was hosted by Dr. Ying He, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and IACP Council Member. Professors Xinyu Cao, Qing Shen, Haotian Zhong, Zhenhua Chen, and Zhongren Peng awarded outstanding students and young scholars, recognizing their diligent efforts and academic achievements and expressing higher expectations. Professor Zhilin Liu, on behalf of the IACP Council, conferred the Outstanding Contribution Award of this year’s conference upon Professor Haixiao Pan of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University. During the flag handover ceremony, Chang’an University—the host of the next annual conference—assumed responsibility, expressing full confidence and enthusiasm and pledging to uphold IACP’s mission and values through meticulous planning to ensure the next conference remains a vibrant platform for intellectual exchange and knowledge sharing. Finally, Associate Professor Ruoxi Zhang again thanked all colleagues attending IACP for traveling from afar to foster international academic exchange, and extended heartfelt appreciation to the organizing team members and students at Xiamen University for their dedicated work—demonstrating the energy and commitment of Xiamen University’s planning team.

The successful hosting of this IACP Annual Conference not only promoted exchanges and collaboration among urban planning scholars globally but also provided invaluable wisdom and strength for advancing sustainable urban development and governance innovation.