2009 Chongqing International Construction Summit Explores Sustainable Growth Strategies of the Mega City

CHONGQING, China, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 380 investors, public and private owners, developers, designers, engineers, contractors, and building product manufacturers from China and abroad today attended the 2009 Chongqing International Construction Summit. Co-hosted by McGraw-Hill Construction, the Chartered Institute of Building (UK), and Construction Times, a national industry newspaper in China, the event drew lively discussion on how to achieve sustainable development in Chongqing, a rapidly growing city with a population of 31 million.

Spreading across 31.8 square miles, Chongqing is one of four municipalities under the direct administration of the Chinese Central Government. It plays a vital role in the economic development in the country's Southwest region and the upper Yangtze River. 2009 GDP growth for the city is expected to be 16%, despite the global economic downturn.

Mr. LING Yueming, Deputy Mayor, opened the conference and encouraged industry experts to help Chongqing build itself into an eco-mega city. Mr. LI Jianchun, Director General of Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission, reviewed the city's recent economic growth and increasing foreign investment. Mr. ZHANG Yuan, Chief Planner of Chongqing Urban Planning Bureau, delivered a keynote speech on the city's master plan for 2020, revealing ambitious infrastructure goals. Mr. Vincent LO, Chairman of Shui On Land Limited, discussed the development of Chongqing Tiandi and strategies for rejuvenating and redeveloping the old town. More than 20 other industry leaders presented case studies and contributed to panel discussions, including:

• Doug Wright, President, Fire & Security Asia, United Technology Corp.
• Alan Crane, Vice President, The Chartered Institute of Building
• Ada Fung, Deputy Director of Housing (Development & Construction), HKSAR
• Yu Xiaobin, Head of Construction Management Office, Chongqing Municipal Construction Commission
• Toby Bath, Managing Director/SVP, Asia/Pacific, HOK International
• Stanley Yip, Director of Planning and Development, Arup
• Silas Chiow, Director, SOM China
• Mark Harrison, Technical Director, Urban Planning, Atkins China
• Bill Dunster, Founder, ZEDfactory
• Bridgette Gasa, President of Africa, The Chartered Institute of Building
• Brian Roulstone, Director of R&D, China & North Asia, Akzo Nobel Swire Paints
• Ronnie Zheng, Director of Energy and Sustainability Solutions, Carrier HVAC Asia
• Chen Guilin, Chairman, Sichuan Huaxi Group
• Sun Jinke, Chairman, Shanghai Jianke Project Management, and Chairman, Hill Jianke Project Management
• Wang Jian, Deputy Director and Vice-Chief Engineer, Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University
• Zheng Xuexuan, Managing Director, Overseas Operations, China State Construction Engineering Co.
• Gu You, Assistant General Manager, North China Power Engineering (Beijing)
• Siang Lim, Acting Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis Chongqing Office
  

"McGraw-Hill Construction is proud to hold such a high-level summit in Chongqing together with our partners to offer international benchmarks and best practices on sustainable growth strategies," said James H. McGraw IV, Vice President and Group Publisher, McGraw-Hill Construction.

"Chongqing welcomes your advice, and we look forward to partnering with local and international industry leaders to build a green and livable city," said Madam Li Shirong, President, The Chartered Institute of Building and Deputy Director, Chongqing Foreign Trade & Economic Relations Commission.

Attendees also participated in the 6th annual ENR/Construction Times Top 60 Chinese Contractors and Top 60 Chinese Engineering Design Firms Awards Ceremony, co-hosted by McGraw-Hill Construction's Engineering News-Record (ENR) and Construction Times. Leaders of China Construction Industry Association and China Survey and Design Industry Association congratulated these top ranked firms for their achievements in domestic and overseas markets despite the economic downturn.

The event received strong support from the Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Commission, Chongqing Construction Commission, Chongqing Urban Planning Bureau, Chongqing Environmental Protection Bureau, and industry associations. It was sponsored by United Technology Corp., Akzo Nobel Swire Paints, The US Department of Energy, Dow Corning, HOK and Bentley.

For more information, visit www.construction.com/events/Chongqing09/.

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SOURCE McGraw-Hill Construction