The Executive Vice President of Tongji University, WU Jiang, attended the signing ceremony of the Alliance of Chinese-Central European Universities(ACCEU) in the field of science, technology, and innovationconvened in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, October 18th-19th. He delivered a speech onthe Development of Cities of Wisdomin the ensuing forum to mark the occasion.
On October 18th, the members of Excellence,9 from China and 10 from Central European universities with a strong focus on innovative research, officially signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Alliance. The Alliance was formedin response to China`s strategic call for intensified exchange and cooperation between Chinese top engineering universities and those in the countries along the Belt and the Road according to the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.
Atthe forum, WU visualized cities in the future as being inclusive and flexible as well as longing for sustainable development and modernized government at the same time. He also introduced the evolution of such ideas as functional rationalism, urban organism, artificial life/digital organism and cities of wisdom, which were all inspired by the renowned architect Le Corbusier`s assertion -- ‘a house was a machine for living in’. In addition, WU used case studies of nearly 20 cities from different regions/cultures/sizes across America, Europe, and China for an exposition on multi-dimensional assessment system for urban development.
