Dear Colleagues,


At the invitation of the Urban Planning Society of China (UPSC), ISOCARP will hold its next Congress in Dalian, China. Its Secretary General, Shi Nan, is chairing the Local Organising Committee. Three other Chinese sponsoring institutions have joined UPSC: the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, the Chinese Society for Urban Studies and the Ecological Society of China.

The theme, proposed by our hosts: “Urban growth without sprawl”, is particularly timely, as urban sprawl is a key feature of today’s urban growth worldwide, not least in China.
Urban Sprawl is mixing built space and residual open fields. Indeed some 3 billion people live in “urban” areas but that notion only means the transformation from natural to artificial spaces.
Making liveable places, caring for people and nature and favouring social inclusion, is more than ever a duty to the decision makers and their professional advisers.

As my predecessor Alfonso Vegara said two years ago in “Four Decades of Knowledge Creation and Sharing” ISOCARP is endeavouring to provide opportunities for bridging the gap between young and less young professionals, and between cultures, both  through the congress papers and through its task-oriented young planning professionals (YPP) workshops, that take place just prior to our congresses. This year they will be related to the Dalian urban and port development challenges.
The Congress will again give us the opportunity to hear the results of the latest ISOCARP Urban Planning Advisory Teams (UPAT - formerly known as Urban Task Forces), expert teams mixing members of different generations and cultures, which advise authorities on pending planning issues (for the ones of last year, see reports in isocarp.net of June and December 2007 – www.isocarp.org).

The expanded website is another tool for building bridges between members and institutions of different backgrounds and based in different regions. Full use will be made of it in the preparation of the Dalian Congress.

Detlef Kammeier, General Rapporteur of the Congress, has a long time teaching and professional practice in the Asia Pacific Region as well as in his native Germany. He will by himself embody the bridge between generations and cultures, as well as the academic expertise required to make the highest and best use of the abundant material flowing in.

We have high expectations for this Congress and look forward to welcoming many of you in Dalian.

Honourable colleagues and guests,

The beautiful city of Dalian is very pleased to host the 44th World Congress of the International Society of City and Regional Planners during the golden season of September. Retrospecting the past and looking into the future, representatives from all over the world will be gathering to exchange ideas and opinions on issues concerning urban planning and development. On behalf of the 5.65 million people of Dalian, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all friends present.

History tells us that industrialisation and urbanisation have provided people with unprecedented material and cultural achievements. At the same time, great pressures on the natural environment were brought about, and many challenges had to be faced, such as ecological deterioration, an increasing population, and a decreasing supply of natural resources. The theme, proposed by the congress organisers ‘urban growth without sprawl’ is particularly timely and relevant. Both citizens and professional planners share the responsibility to maintain sustainable urbanisation in the world.

Dalian, the most famous harbour city in China, has made great efforts to improve the city's environment and living conditions. We are very proud of the achievements that have been made and also of being the Northern Pearl of China. It is a good chance for ISOCARP, Dalian city and all participants to have this important event in Dalian. We are ready to take this opportunity to serve our guests, cooperate with foreign partners and indeed to learn from each other.
 
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the International Society of City and Regional Planners and the Urban Planning Society of China for choosing Dalian to host the Congress.

I wish the Congress much success and hope that all participants will have a wonderful and memorable time in Dalian.