APA's China Program

Since 1978, APA has sent planners to China for teaching, discussion, and projects. For several years, APA has received many delegations of planners and government officials from China.

As the largest and oldest non-governmental organization promoting the planning movement, APA sees a responsibility to share and exchange ideas on a global basis. In addition, APA wants to find ways to expand opportunities for members to discuss and exchange information about planning with planners and officials from other nations.

Visiting Delegations

Several delegations of Chinese elected officials, including mayors and deputy mayors responsible for urban development, have several times visited American cities in cooperation with APA's China Program. Each delegation has had 10 to 15 high-ranking officials interested in creative ideas and thoughtful plans for their cities.

Members of the delegations are especially interested in cities with similar geographic characteristics and similar financial and economic development opportunities and challenges. Physical layout, environmental programs, economic development strategies, and other planning issues in similar cities have helped the officials with their future decision making back home.

APA's China Program has invited interested members to act as hosts and introduce their cities and experiences with innovative solutions to urban problems. Individual delegations have in the past select different cities to visit, then have met in central cities for group presentations and lectures.

Click here to see the itinerary of a recent visit by Chinese officials.

Planning in China Workshops

APA's China Program has successfully organized three Planning in China workshops in the past three years and will continue to invite senior Chinese planners to speak to APA members on topics of Chinese urbanization and planning issues as well as offer practical information about professional activities in China.

APA's China Program would like you to consider participating in a future Planning in China workshop. To see the contents and format of a past workshop, visit www.planning.org/conferences/china.htm.

APA's Chinese Language Website

In its continuing efforts to provide leadership in the planning movement both domestically and internationally, APA has launched a Chinese-text website designed to enhance our strong cooperation with planners, leaders, and citizens in the People's Republic of China.

Click here for more about the website, an English translation, and a link.

The website contains information about the APA and our overall approach to providing technical assistance to China. In addition, it features examples of how we have developed training programs, conferences, workshops, and opportunities for educational exchanges and visits to the United States.

More Information

For more information on APA's China Program, please contact Yufeng Guo at yguo@planning.org.