The recent UN World Population report concludes that by the end of 2008, for the first time in history there will be more people living in cities than in rural areas. The consequences of rapid urbanization are particularly noticeable in Asia’s mega-cities, whose growth is apparently never-ending. What urban life might look like in the future and how to deal with the challenges that increasing urbanization poses for people, the environment and society are the themes of the first “Germany and China - Chongqing Dialogue on Urbanization” from June 14 to 16 in the south west Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. The venue for this kick-off to a series of conferences is well chosen. As the largest city in the world with 32 million inhabitants (including the city’s surrounding areas), Chongqing (link to Chongqing page) is growing rapidly and has to cope with a range of environmental and traffic problems.

During the three-day conference, experts from Germany and China will come together for the first time to develop and discuss ideas, solutions and projects on sustainable urban development, energy efficiency, transport, mobility, supply and infrastructure. Their common goal: to create cities in which it is worthwhile to live.

On the Chinese side, keynote speakers taking part in the conference include Wan Gang, Minister for Science and Technology and the Deputy Environment Minister Pan Yue.
On the German side, Dr. Klaus Toepfer, a former director of the UN Environment Programme and Gert Sippel, an expert in sustainable urban planning from GTZ.

The “Chongqing Dialogue on Urbanization” is part of the “Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together” three-year series of events. It is organised by the German Foreign Office in cooperation with the Goethe Institute, which is managing the project, the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business and the “Germany - Land of Ideas” initiative. The series is under the joint patronage of Federal President Horst Köhler and the Chinese State President Hu Jintao, and will take place in six regional metropolises from 2007 to 2010.

http://www.deutschland-und-china.com

Related links:

• United Nations Population Fund UNFPA
• UNFPA: State of the world population 2007 – pdf download
• German Foundation for World Population
• GTZ: Programme for environmentally friendly, sustainable urban development in China

Related Dates:

• 6. October 2008: World Habitat Day „Harmonious Cities“
• 03.-07. November, Nanjing, China: World Urban Forum 4
• 23. – 25. June 2008, Singapur: World Cities Summit 2008 in Singapur