New World China Land Limited (“NWCL”) opened the “Humanity Meets Technology” Sustainability Conference in Beijing on the morning of 9 May. Among the attendees were Mr. So Chung-Keung (Director and Chief Executive Officer of NWCL), Ms. Huang Shao-Mei (Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NWCL), and Mr. Chan Lai-Man (Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NWCL). In addition to speeches on sustainability, the two-day conference featured workshops, case study sharing, and visits to green/smart corporations.
“Embracing the vision of developing sustainable communities, NWCL has dedicated itself to the urbanisation of mainland China. At this conference, experts, academics and industry leaders discussed current topics such as the opportunities and challenges presented by urbanisation throughout mainland China as well as the steps necessary to further the cause of social sustainability, all in the hope that new ideas will be generated that promote a new-type of urbanisation and help facilitate economic growth” said Mr. So Chung-Keung in his opening speech.
Humanity and Technology Join Forces, Sustainability has Become the Industry Trend
In the years between the dawn of economic reforms and 2017, China’s urbanisation rate rose from 17.9% to 58.5%, which was widely considered a miracle in human history in terms of its scale and speed, although quality issues still left a great deal of room for improvement. In the 2018 NPC Government Work Report, there is a clear indication that the Chinese government is committed to “a new-type of advanced quality urbanisation” by correcting previous mistakes made over the course of China’s urbanisation efforts and thus achieving a holistic superior quality.
NWCL holds the view that achieving advanced quality for new types of urbanisation can only be realised by putting greater emphasis on humanity and cultural heritage. With the aid of new technologies, a green, smart and human-oriented city can now be built to improve the urban environment and quality of life, which is a future that NWCL believes in and also a cause NWCL feels socially responsible for. Invited by NWCL from a wide cross-section of society, the guests were motivated to discuss and brainstorm new directions at this conference for building future cities in China.
Sustainability – the Future of Our Cities
During the conference, guest speakers gave their views about green, low-carbon living and the preservation of urban culture while engaging in panel discussions on the significance of urban sustainability. Among the guest speakers were: Mr. Zhuang Guiyang (Research Associate at the Institute of Urban and Environmental Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Secretary of CASS Thinktank for Eco-Civilisation Studies), Mr. Li Xun (Vice President and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of the Chinese Academy of Urban Planning and Design), Ms. Zheng Mingmei (Director of China Center For Urban Development and Secretary General of the Smart City Development Alliance, and Mr. Sun Lei (NWCL Regional Chief Executive - Northern China (Beijing & Tianjin).
Ms. Zheng Mingmei believes that the new-type of urbanisation is a natural outcome of China’s decades-long efforts at urbanisation especially at a time when smart and green city planning has become the main direction of today’s urban development. Mr. Zhuang Guiyang approached the topic from the perspective of case analyses, green finance and architectural design. Mr. Li Xun said that urban renewal can play a key role in the convergence of cultural heritage preservation efforts. “Urban renewal is not just about heritage conservation, it is also concerned with active revitalisation of historic buildings, re-activation of aging urban functions, and rejuvenation of a discolored cityscape, which gives a city a new lease of life,” said Mr. Li. His sentiments were shared by Mr. Sun Lei, who noted – “I think urban renewal is vital. Partial renewal of old areas of a city can serve to bolster local culture and promote traditional values. The shaping of a unique cityscape is a vitally important mission.”
Integration of Resources Facilitates Business Synergy
NWCL began hosting sustainability conferences back in 2015. With speeches on sustainability given by experts and members of academia, these gatherings also serve as a platform for NWCL staff from different regions to share their work experiences and ideas, discuss the challenges faced at work, and gain first-hand knowledge of the latest market information and NWCL’s future directions.
During the conference, NWCL cited the future planning of Chongwai Lot 6 in Beijing for case sharing to illustrate how NWCL works in conformity with China’s new directions in city development. Chongwai Lot 6 combines the strengths of urban renewal and historic heritage by preserving landmarks in the old city and injecting a fresh dose of sustainability ideas. Most importantly, NWCL has played its part in channelling Beijing’s robust energy into a grand scheme for sustainable development. In reshaping the many old hutongs into public gathering places, the Chongwai Lot 6 project exemplifies a milestone in promoting traditional culture in a modern context.
As an operator in urban settings, NWCL is a strong advocate for “The Artisanal Movement”, the brand personality of New World Group, with developmental ideas that demonstrate four focus areas: “green”, “wellness”, “smart” and “cultural heritage”. With the full backing of every walk of life, NWCL is devoted to the integration of different sustainable communities into one solid platform upon which elements of technology, culture, history and art make their mark via green architecture and cultural preservation. In doing so, NWCL is well equipped to build a host of lively and blossoming smart cities.