On July 11, the 2026 International Summer School on Smart Cities opened at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA). The Summer School was jointly organized by BUCEA, the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), the Belt and Road Architectural University International Consortium (BRAUIC), and the Higher Education Committee of the China Association of Construction Education, with support from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Location Based Services (LBS) Association of China. More than 180 experts, scholars, and young students from 14 countries, including China, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Canada, embarked on a nine-day program featuring academic learning and in-depth social practice. Attendees at the opening ceremony included Mr. YU Shanchuan, Director of the General Affairs Division, Department of Standards and Norms, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; Mr. MEI Jianjun, Level II Division Rank Official of the International Language Environment Building Division, Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality; Professor ZHANG Dayu, President of BUCEA; Professor CHEN Zhaohui, Vice President of BUCEA; and heads of relevant university departments and schools. The ceremony was hosted by Vice President CHEN Zhaohui.

The ceremony began with a spectacular Tai Chi Fan performance titled “Harmony & Unity”. The performance was presented by nine international students from BUCEA, representing Azerbaijan, Rwanda, Nigeria, Russia, and Ethiopia.

Professor ZHANG Dayu, President of BUCEA and Chair of BRAUIC, extended a warm welcome to more than 180 university scholars, industry experts, and young students from 14 countries. He noted that in recent years, BUCEA has actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative, advanced the high-quality development of BRAUIC, and established extensive and substantive cooperation among its 101 member institutions from 33 countries and regions in areas including joint student education, collaborative research, and faculty and student exchanges. Earlier this week, Professor JIANG Jie was elected Vice President of ISPRS, further enhancing BUCEA’s contribution to international academic exchange. Professor ZHANG emphasized that the International Summer School on Smart Cities has become an important platform for promoting intercultural exchange and advancing collaborative innovation in the field of smart cities. He encouraged all participants to cherish this valuable opportunity and grow into a new generation of young leaders contributing to international cooperation and sustainable urban development.

Vice President CHEN Zhaohui noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the International Summer School on Smart Cities. She expressed hope that every participant would gain a broader understanding of the world through this journey and become a new force connecting civilizations and advancing international cooperation after returning to their home countries.

In his remarks, Mr. YU Shanchuan, Director of the General Affairs Division, Department of Standards and Norms, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, spoke highly of BUCEA’s achievements as an initiating institution of BRAUIC. He encouraged participants from around the world to cherish this valuable time together, gain knowledge through the exchange of ideas, and build lasting friendships.

Ms. Khayala Ibrahimova, Lecturer from the Department of Cybersecurity and Computer Engineering, Baku Engineering University, Azerbaijan, delivered a speech as a representative of international participants.

Ms. MA Wenyan, an undergraduate student from the Class of 2025 at the School of Future Architecture and Technology, BUCEA, delivered a speech as the student representative.

Following the speeches, Mr. MEI Jianjun presented the flag to the student representatives.

At the end of the ceremony, representatives from each class presented their Wish Trees created as part of the “Smart Summer Sketches” Sign-in Activity.

A group photo was taken with all participants attending the ceremony.

Following the opening ceremony, Mr. MEI Jianjun delivered a keynote lecture titled “International Language Environment and Smart City Development.” The lecture provided a comprehensive overview of Beijing’s achievements in smart city development across key areas, including government services, digital payments, transportation, and international medical services.

The Summer School will continue through July 18. Over the past decade, the program has attracted more than 2,000 students from over 100 universities worldwide.