Developing Healthy and Age Friendly Cities in the PRC: From Planning to Practice

While the achievements and benefits of rapid urbanization in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are remarkable, it is clear also that severe challenges remain. Among these are the numerous health related challenges derived from large-scale migration, ageing, pollution, shifts in diet and lifestyle, and social inequality. Similarly, the PRC faces tremendous challenges in addressing the needs and ensuring the well- being of its elderly population. This issue goes beyond the health and social care systems to the need to develop urban infrastructure which also serves disabled and aging populations. The PRC Government has been taking actions to address these challenges and in 2016 passed the Healthy China 2030 Policy, which clearly calls for all ministries to play a role in making the urban environments supportive of healthy and safe lifestyles. Prior to this, the New-Type Urbanization National Plan was approved in 2014 which prioritizes the development of people-centered and health-oriented cities. In both of these policy contexts there is increasing attention to developing age friendly cities which serve the needs of all citizens, and particularly those of the elderly.

Tongji University and ADB are co-hosting a workshop to discuss this important topic and the role of the urban sector in shaping the future of cities in the PRC. The discussions will include the physical features such as housing, transport, public spaces, universal design and urban services that are critical for achieving urban health development and management and improving the livability for the elderly and the disabled. Through different sessions, presenters will share global, regional and PRC initiatives that are at the forefront of innovative solutions in adapting cities to meet these health challenges and the needs of an aging urban populations. 

Agenda:
TimeProgram
08:30 – 09:00Registration
09:00 – 09:30Opening Remarks

Moderator: Prof. Lan Wang, Assist Dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Vice Director, ADB-Tongji Urban Knowledge Hub

Speakers:

  • Dean Prof. Zhenyu Li College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

  • Prof. Zilai Tang College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Director, ADBTongji Urban Knowledge Hub

  • Ms. Teresa M. Kho Deputy Director General, East Asia Regional Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Session I: Developing Healthy Cities

By 2030 almost 70% people in the PRC will live in a city, and this number is expected to continue to rise. The design of cities plays a pivotal role in the health of its inhabitants. This session will set the context of the topic by providing an overview of the Healthy China 2030 policy and trends in urbanization and aging demographics in the country. It will outline the key health challenges and the resulting opportunities and challenges for urban planning in PRC. It will discuss how a focus on health and wellness can have profound implications for urban design and redesign and livability of urban environments.

While city planners regularly take into consideration the economic viability of cities, not many explicitly consider health. Yet health and wellness account for between twenty to thirty percent of all economic activity and are the only continual source of new job growth in advanced economies. A focus on health and wellness would mean designing and developing transportation systems, housing, and recreational facilities that meet the needs of all. It would also mean the creation of a truly “smart city”, with prevention and healthcare systems supported by comprehensive information networks providing data in real time.
09:30 – 10:30Presentations:

Healthy City: International Progress and Insights for the PRC
Mr. Xiaopeng Jiang, Representative, WHO, Beijing Office

Healthy City Development Under the Perspective of Healthy China
Prof. Hongwei Yang, Deputy Director of China National Health Development Research Center

Key Issues of Healthy City Planning in the PRC
Prof. Lan Wang, Assist Dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Vice Director, ADB-Tongji Urban Knowledge Hub
10:30 – 10:45Coffee break
10:45 – 11:45 Moderator: Ms. Wendy Walker, Chief of Social Development Thematic Group, Social Development Thematic Group, SDCC, ADB

Discussants:

  • Ms. Belinda Yuen, Research Director, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design

  • Prof. Li Zhang, Deputy Director of the Leadership Training Center of Urban-Rural Development, Tongji University and Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development

  • Prof. Lan Wang, Assist Dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Vice Director, ADB-Tongji Urban Knowledge Hub

  • Prof. Hongwei Yang, Professor, Deputy Director of China National Health Development Research Center

  • Mr. Xiaopeng Jiang, Representative, WHO, Beijing Office

  • Ms. Yong Liu, Deputy Director, Institute of Standards and Norms, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD)


Questions & Answers
12:00 – 13:15Lunch
Session II: Assessing Healthy Cities: Tools and Approaches

With rapid urbanization, changing demographics, increasing communicable diseases including pandemic threats and the impact of climate change, it is becoming clear that cities as centers of living and working need to provide healthier conditions for their populations.

Countries are implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) focusing on three dimensions: i) increasing coverage of services, ii) enhancing quality of care and iii) protecting households from getting into poverty from catastrophic health expenditures. To achieve UHC requires countries to also address the social determinants of health using a multi-sectoral approach. There is significant interest in how to better account for the contribution of non-health sectors to health outcomes using various tools including Health Impact Assessment. Additional emphasis on health outcomes will contribute to greater economic viability of urban development.

This session will discuss two approaches and the respective tools.

The first focuses on using the HIA tool to identify priorities for local government actions by: (i) assessing urban development impacts on health, (ii) applying a health lens to urban planning to identify emerging challenges – i.e., Non Communicable Diseases, aging, (iii) identifying actions to address the emerging challenges, (iv) by bringing stakeholders together and informing a public health management plan, and (vi) develop a monitoring and evaluation system. Examples from its use with municipalities in PRC will be shared.

The second will discuss the Healthy City criteria and indicators that have been developed for PRC.
13:15 – 13:55Presentations:

Health Impact Assessment for Healthy Cities
Dr. Filipe Silva, Director of Public Health by Design Limited

Healthy City Development and Assessment in the PRC
Mr. Yong Lu, Director, Health Promotion Division, Chinese Center for Health Education
13:55 – 14:55Moderator: Dr. Susann Roth, Principal Knowledge Sharing and Services Specialist

Discussants:

  • Dr. Janis Shandro, Community Health and Safety Specialist, University of Victoria, British Columbia

  • Dr. Filipe Silva, Director of Public Health by Design Limited

  • Mr. Wang Lijun, Deputy Director, Yanji City Development Reform Commission

  • Mr. Shi Honglin, Director, Health Bureau Yanji City

  • Mr. Li Wenhua, Deputy Director, Environmental Protection Bureau

  • Mr. Guoping Luo, Director of Finance Bureau of the Lincang Border Economic Cooperation Zone Management Committee (Yunnan Province)

  • Stefan Rau, Senior Urban Development Specialist, ADB

  • Mr. Tianjie Xiao, Deputy Director of Lincang Municipal Health Commission


Questions & Answers
14:55 – 15:10Coffee Break
Session III: Experience from the PRC

This session will introduce concrete cases from the PRC of the ways in which municipalities are trying to develop healthy and age friendly cities which address the needs of their populations through improved urban design and services. It will present cases in which municipalities are experiencing rapid population aging and experiences of cities in elderly care sector development in PRC. Further, this session will discuss steps towards developing a healthy city project.

This session’s format will be a panel discussion on challenges currently being faced and innovations being undertaken.

The presenters/moderators will provide a brief introduction of the issues and the panelists will each give their responses, comments, and answer the moderator’s questions. Further, this session will open to the floor to share the experiences among the local governments and other stakeholders, and discuss effective policies to develop sustainable elderly care systems in a city and strengthen city functions to support a livable aging society.

15:10 – 16:10Presentations:

Mechanisms to Promote Healthy City in Taiwan and Performance Evaluation
Hsien Wen Kuo, Professor, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in National Yang Ming University

Community-Based Injury Prevention and Intervention- a Safer and Healthier City
Prof. Shumei Wang, Professor, School Public Health in Fudan University

ADB Hebei Elderly Care Development Project – Learning From International Experience, Improving Project Design
Ms. Wei Xue, Director, Hebei Province Financial Department
16:10 – 17:10 Moderator:
Prof. Weiqiang Wang, Professor, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Vice director, ADB-Tongji Urban Knowledge Hub

Discussants:

  • Prof. Shumei Wang, School Public Health in Fudan University

  • Prof. Hsien Wen Kuo, Professor, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in National Yang Ming University

  • Ms. Wei Xue, Director, Hebei Province Financial Department

  • Ms. Jie Bai, Urban Development Specialist, ADB

  • Prof. Lan Wang, Assist Dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Vice Director, ADB-Tongji Urban Knowledge Hub


Questions & Answers
18:00Dinner
TimeProgram
Session IV: Developing Inclusive and Age-Friendly Cities – Global Initiatives: Local Practice

This session will highlight global initiatives and local practice in developing inclusive and age-friendly cities. highlighting the successes and practice in the region. The session will also discuss the approaches to addressing the needs of all including persons with disabilities and aging populations in urban planning and design. It will present international (UK, Singapore and Hong Kong) and national cases and highlight the role of key concepts such as community, livability, accessibility and social inclusion and inclusive design in the approaches taken.
09:00 – 10:40Presentations:

Inclusive Design and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
Ms. Vicky Austin, Director, Global Disability Innovation Hub

Design and Implementation of Healthy and Age-Friendly City in Hong Kong, China
Mr. Robert Wong, Project Development Director, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council

Retooling the Housing Environment for Ageing in Singapore
Ms. Belinda Yuen, Research Director, Lee Kwan Yu Center for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design

Shanghai Age-Friendly Environment Assessment Indicator System
Mr. Xiaocang Ding, Former Deputy Director, Shanghai Jing’an District Health Bureau

The Impact of Urban Green Space on the Social Life of the Elderly
Yifan Yu, Professor, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University
10:40 – 10:50Coffee Break
10:50 – 11:30Moderator: Dr. Xiu Yang, Research Fellow, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

Discussants:

  • Ms. Belinda Yuen, Research Director, Lee Kwan Yu Center for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design

  • Prof. Yifan Yu, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

  • Hsien Wen Kuo, Secretary general, Chinese Taipei Health City Alliance

  • Mr. Xiaocang Ding, Former Deputy Director, Shanghai Jing’an District Health Bureau

  • Ms. Vicky Austin, Director, Global Disability Innovation Hub

  • Mr. Robert Wong, Project Development Director, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council


Questions & Answers
11:30 – 12:00Summary Points and Closing Remarks

  • Prof. Lan Wang, Assist Dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Vice Director, ADB-Tongji Urban Knowledge Hub

  • Ms. Wendy Walker, Chief of Social Development Thematic Group, Social Development Thematic Group, SDCC, ADB

  • Mr. Sangay Penjor, Director, Urban and Social Division, East Asia Department, ADB

12:00 – 13:15Lunch
Session V: Site visit organized by Tongji University

For site visit, three sites are arranged related to the Healthy City and Age-Friendly City. One is located in Xuhui West Bund and two others are neighboring located in Jing’an district. Participants will gather in the hotel lobby after lunch and take bus to the Jing’an district for a half-hour visit. One is Healthcare Self-service station, which is a free physical examination for residents and set up on every avenue in Jing’an district, another one I Know is an organization that prevents Alzheimer’s disease for community, both of them are community health promotion place reflect the Age-friendly principles. After that, visitors will take bus to the West Bund in Xuhui district to learn about city development of Shanghai.
13:15 Gathering at Metropolo Jinjiang Hotel Lobby and take bus
13:45 – 14:15Visit the Healthcare Self-service Station and I Know
Interpreted by Mr. Ding and Ms. Zhuang
14:50 – 15:30Visit Xuhui West Bund Planning Exhibition Center
Interpreted by Mr. Keyang Ye
15:30 – 16:00Field research in the opening space, visit the healthy facilities in West Bund
16:00 – 16:30Visit Artificial Intelligence Center
Scenery of Xuhui District and Huangpu River
17:00 Back to the Metropolo Jinjiang Hotel

Balancing and Integrating Urban-Rural Development in the PRC

ADB PRC Resident Mission’s Country Director Hamid Sharif, ADB East Asia Department’s Senior Advisor Edgar Cua, and Director Sangay Penjor addressed the workshop organized by the East Asia Department and Tongji University on 13-14 November. Over 120 participants discussed lessons from the PRC’s good practices on balancing and integrating urban-rural development. Experts from ADB South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub shared lessons from their countries.

Agenda:
TimeProgram
08:30 Registration and Networking
09:00 Opening Remarks
Moderator: Prof. Zilai TANG, Department of Urban Planning, CAUP, Tongji University

  • Prof. Jiang WU, Vice President, Tongji University

  • Mr. Hamid Sharif, Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission

  • Prof. Zhenyu LI, Dean of CAUP, Tongji University

Keynote Speeches Session 1: The PRC and Europe
Moderator: Prof. Zilai TANG, Department of Urban Planning, CAUP, Tongji University
09:15 Policies and Programs of Urban-Rural Integration in the PRC: Case of Village Environment Improvement, Jiangsu Province
Dr. Lan ZHOU, Director, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development CN
09:45 Rural-Urban Partnerships in Europe
Dr. Rupert Kawka, Federal Institute for Building and Regional Planning, Germany
10:15Tea and Coffee Break
Keynote Speeches Session 2: From the South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub
Moderators: Mr. Stefan Rau, Urban Development Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB, and Ms. Maria Pia Ancora, Urban Development Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB
10:30Introduction to the ADB South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub
Dr. Debjani Gosh, Team Leader, ADB South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub (SAUKH)
Dr. Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh Urban Knowledge Hub (SAUKH)
10:40Rural Development and Urban-Rural Development Policies in India
Mr. Kirtee Shah, President, India Habitat Forum
11:00Urban-Rural Development, Policies and Trends in Sri Lanka
Prof. P.K.S. Mahanama, Sri Lanka Urban Knowledge Hub as part of SAUKH
11:20Panel Discussion: Lessons for Urban-Rural Policies for the PRC

  • Dr. Lan ZHOU, Director, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-rural Development

  • Dr. Rupert Kawka, Federal Institute for Building and Regional Planning, Germany

  • Dr. Debjani Gosh, Team Leader, ADB South Asia Urban Knowledge Hub

  • Mr. Kirtee Shah, President, India Habitat Forum

  • Prof. P.K.S. Mahanama, Sri Lanka Urban Knowledge Hub as part of SAUKH

  • Dr. Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh Urban Knowledge Hub as part of SAUKH

12:10Group Photo
12:15Lunch Break, Sanhaowu Restaurant, 2nd Floor
13:30Case Study Project 1: Jiangsu Province
Moderator: Ms. Hinako Maruyama, Urban Development Specialist, ADB

Village Environment Improvement and Revitalization Program, Jiangsu Province
Dr. Dongfeng ZHU, Director, Urban Development Research Institute CN
Mr. Jianye WANG, Alcalde of Yaxi Town, Gaochun District, Nanjing
14:00 Questions and Answers
14:15Case Study Project 2: Chengdu City
Moderator: Prof. Lan WANG, CAUP, Tongji University

Chengdu Urban-Rural Integration Program, Sichuan Province CN
Prof. Yuming YE, Chief Specialist, Public Policy Platform of Urban-Rural Collaboration and Innovation Center, Renmin University
Mr. Jia ZHANG, Deputy Director of Chengdu Planning and Administration Bureau, Sichuan Province
14:45Questions and Answers
15:00Case Study Project 3: Tengtou Village
Moderator: Prof. Weiqiang WANG, CAUP, Tongji University

Tengtou Village Comprehensive Development Project, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province
Mr. Guoyu ZHAO, Director, Department of Planning Research, Ningbo Urban Planning and Design Institute
Mr. Qing YU, Chief Engineer of Tengtou Village, Fenghua District, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
15:30Questions and Answers
15:45Tea and Coffee Break
16:00Case Studies from ADB’s Portfolio in the PRC
Moderator: Ms. Irene Bain, Senior Social Sector Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB,

ADB Loans and Technical Assistance Projects Promoting Urban-Rural Integration
Mr. Sangay Penjor, Officer in Charge, Urban and Social Sector Division, East Asia Department, ADB with contributions from ADB project teams
16:20Panel and Plenary Discussion
Moderator: Mr. Hamid Sharif, Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission

Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned from the Case Studies

  • Prof. Zilai TANG, CAUP, Tongji University

  • Mr. Edgar Cua, Senior Advisor, EARD, ADB

  • Prof. Guiqing YANG , CAUP, Tongji University

  • Dr. Dongfeng ZHU, Director, Urban Development Research Institute, Jiangsu Province

  • Prof. Yuming YE, Chief Specialist, Public Policy Platform of Urban-Rural Collaboration and Innovation Center, Renmin University

  • Mr. Guoyu ZHAO, Director, Department of Planning Research, Ningbo Urban Planning and Design Institute

Urban Knowledge Hub Awards Ceremony
Moderator: Prof. Lan WANG, CAUP, Tongji University
17:00 Best Practices Awards 2014
17:15Workshop Closing Remarks
Mr. Edgar Cua, Senior Advisor, East Asia Department, ADB
Prof. Zilai TANG, CAUP, Tongji University
18:00Dinner Reception, Tang Gong Restaurant, 2nd Floor of Magnolia Hotel

Study Tour Tengtou Village, Zhejiang Province

Study tour to villages from case studies

TimeProgram
Site visit of Tengtou outside Ningbo
08:00Departure from Tongji University Guest House
11:00Lunch in Tengtou Village
12:30Tour and walk in Tengtou Village
15:00 Questions & Answers session with planners, local officials and residents
16:00 Leave Tengtou Village
17:00 Stop at Ningbo Railway Station
17:15Dinner in Ningbo
20:30Arrival at Shanghai

New Towns and New Districts in the PRC: Challenges and Opportunities

Following three successful urban knowledge sharing workshops in 2010, 2011, and 2012, the fourth workshop held by the ADB-Tongji University Regional Knowledge Hub focused on the development of new towns and districts in the PRC, followed by a photo exhibition and a site visit in Jiading New District and Wuxi Taihu New Town. The workshop introduced state-of-the-art approaches to planning, implementation and administration in the development of new towns and new districts, as well as discussing lessons learned. Some 80 experts and policy makers from international organizations, governments, and academia participated.

Agenda:
TimeProgram
08:30 Registration and Networking
09:00 Welcoming Remarks
Opening Speeches by Tongji University and ADB
09:15Keynote Speeches Session 1
Moderator: Prof. Zilai Tang

New Towns in the PRC: Evolution to State-of-the-Art Low Carbon Eco-Cities
Professor Fulong Wu

Lessons learned from New Towns in Shanghai
Mr. Yisong Xu

Questions and Answers
10:30 Group Photo, Tea and Coffee Break
10:45Keynote Speeches Session 2
Moderator: ADB

Eco-cities in Europe – Compact, Mixed-use, Green, Livable New Districts
Best Practices New Towns Development

Questions and Answers
12:00Cooperation with ADB’s Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative: New Towns Exhibition

ADB: Opening of the Exhibition New Towns & New Districts
New District Portrait 1: Prof. Weiqiang Wang: Ningbo New District
New District Portrait 2: Mr. Tao Tao: Zhengdong New District
New District Portrait 3: Prof. Gang Liu: Dalian New District
12:35 Lunch Break
13:30Case Studies Session 1
Moderator: Prof. Lan Wang

Shanghai Jiading New District: A Learning System of Adapted Urban Pattern
Presentation of Case Study 1:
Mr. Yanzhou Zhan
Mr. Xiaotao He

Questions and Answers
14:30Case Studies Session 2
Moderator: ADB

Wuxi Taihu Lake New Town A Low-Carbon Eco City
Presentation of Case Study 2:
Mr. Xiao Sima
Mr. Xiaoxing Feng

Questions and Answers
15:30 Tea and Coffee Break
15:50Case Studies Session 3
Moderator: Prof. Weiqiang Wang

Beichuan – A New Town Rising from Post-Disaster Rubble
Presentation of Case Study 3:
Mr. Degao Zheng
Mr. Wang He

Questions and Answers
TimeProgram
Visit of Shanghai Jiading New District
08:00 Departure from Magnotel Hotel
09:30 Tour and Walk Shanghai Jiading New District and discuss with planners and local officials
11:30 Questions & Answers session with planners and local officials
12:00 Lunch
Visit of Wuxi Taihu New Town
13:00 Departure from Shanghai Jiading New District
15:00Tour and Walk Wuxi Taihu Lake New Town and discuss with planners and local officials
17:00 Questions & Answers session with planners and local officials
17:30Dinner
18:30Return to Tongji University
20:30 Arrive at Tongji University

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