In order to cope with problems such as draining of non-renewable resources due to engineering construction, environment pollution, low sustainability of civil engineering facilities, and low recovery capacity after major disasters, develop and promote application of high-performance building structure and materials, and improve the sustainability and restorability of civil engineering facilities, and work out specific countermeasures and suggestions for green, industrial and sustainable development of civil works, the International Top-level Forum on Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy-“Forum on High Performance Building Structure and Material & Sustainability and Restorability of Civil Engineering Facilities”, sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Engineering, opened on the morning of October 20 in Chongqing. Academician Zhou Xuhong, former president of Chongqing University, is chairing the Forum. Academician He Huawu, vice president of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Li Dianxun, deputy mayor of the municipal government, and Zhang Zongyi, president of Chongqing University, have respectively addressed the Forum. Yang Qingshan, a “Changjiang Scholar”, a winner of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars and dean of the School of Civil Engineering of Chongqing University, has presided at the Ceremony.

Zhang Zongyi has pointed out in his speech that in the process of implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, “new-type urbanization construction” and “national maritime safety strategy”, the research of sustainability and restorability of new-type building materials and high-performance civil engineering structure would inevitably become the key and core technology for scientific and technological innovation, and would draw extensive attention. It would also pose a profound impact on the future development of the world. Chongqing University hopes to learn the advanced foreign experience and technologies in civil engineering, deepen exchange and cooperation with peers and facilitate construction of civil engineering related disciplines of Chongqing University by participating in this Forum.

He Huawu has pointed out in his speech that the development and application of high-performance building structure and materials and improvement of sustainability and restorability of civil engineering facilities are the only way to achieve green, industrial and sustainable development of civil works. This Forum will focus on “high-performance building structure and materials” and “sustainability and restorability of civil engineering facilities”. The discussion will involve development directions including the sustainable civil engineering structure, full-life-circle design of engineering structure, resistance of engineering structure to multiple disasters as proposed in the 2030 Development Strategy of China’s Engineering Science and Technology. This Forum will strengthen the international cooperation and exchange of China with respect to the reform and development of civil engineering, and will substantially facilitate application and research in the civil engineering area.

Zhou Xuhong has extended his gratitude to the organizers and sponsors of this Forum. Zhou pointed out that the innovation points of this high-level forum would be closely related to the engineering S&T development and engineering education. This Forum is held in combination with the Second International Forum on Civil Engineering Reform and Innovation. It is hoped that the Forum will play a positive driving role in sustainable development of China’s civil engineering area, disciplinary construction, engineering education and talent cultivation, and will pose a profound impact on the future of the world’s civil engineering.

Li Dianxun has stated in his speech that engineering science and technology are closely related to people’s life, and are important engines that drive development of economy and society. Chongqing is made up of metropolitan areas, rural areas, mountain areas and reservoir areas, and has a unique profile. As a result, it is facing prominent conflicts in terms of population, resources and environment. Li has expressed his hope that this Forum could serve as a platform to fully exhibit the latest innovation achievements, exchange the front-line research and exploration outcomes, and promote the engineering science and technology and economic development. The Forum will be deeply integrated with urban upgrading and countryside prospering, and will contribute wisdom to the innovation and development of Chongqing or even of China.

The International Top-level Forum on Engineering Science and Technology Development Strategy is a highly international and forward-looking series academic event sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Engineering. A total of 25 academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and fellows of National Academy of Engineering of the USA, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Russian Academy of Engineering, European Academy of Engineering, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Japanese Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Engineering of Korea and Singapore Academy of Engineering have appeared at the event. More than 30 experts from other countries such as the USA, Canada, Russia, the UK, Denmark, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong of China and more than 200 experts from mainland China have attended the Opening Ceremony. From October 20 to 21, there will be more than 30 keynote speech sessions, in which major topics related to the future and education and innovation of civil engineering will be discussed. The two main themes of the Forum include “high-performance building structure and materials” and “sustainability and restorability of civil engineering facilities.”