EU–China collaborate on urban planning

High-level Chinese authorities are aware of the demands and fresh concerns that lie ahead as their urban centres and society as a whole continue to evolve at a rapid rate. The Chinese government's spatial planning policy plays a key role in leading its social evolution.

As such, they are taking an active interest in the way their European counterparts approach urbanisation and spatial planning. Conversely, European scholars have taken a more holistic view to both issues. They have been contrasting notions and methodologies with those of their peers from around the globe.

The EU-funded 'Euro-Chinese urban and regional bi-continental research scheme' (ECURBS) project set out to examine how Chinese and European policymakers are dealing with the hurried urban transformation. The academic and research staff mobility scheme brought together a number of universities from the two regions to look into urban and regional development and planning.

During the project lifetime, several international activities were carried out, namely scientific workshops and conferences, research and planning cooperation, teaching cooperation and academic exchanges.

Scholars analysed the unparalleled urban transformation taking place in China, as well as the design of capable planning methods and implementation.

By exploring two vastly different approaches to managing urban transformation, ECURBS reinforced academic and scientific cooperation and relations between China and Europe. By doing so, it helped boost the profile and legitimacy of the urban planning domain for both.