On June 27, 2026, the Kick-off Meeting of the Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Architectural Heritage & the First Working Meeting of the Academic Committee was held at the Xicheng Campus of Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA).
The event was attended by ZHENG Zhiming, Deputy Director of the Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center; ZHANG Dayu, President of BUCEA and Director of the Joint Laboratory; LI Junqi and CHEN Chaohui, Vice Presidents of BUCEA; members of the Academic Committee and experts from universities and research institutes; CHEN Jun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chair of the Academic Committee, who joined via video link; faculty members and students from Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and Chongqing University; representatives from the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka; as well as representatives from relevant departments of BUCEA.
At the kick-off meeting, Vice President LI Junqi delivered welcoming remarks, introducing BUCEA’s comprehensive system for architectural heritage education spanning undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, which provides strong support for the Joint Laboratory’s development and international cooperation. On behalf of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Deputy Director ZHENG Zhiming extended his congratulations on the launch of the laboratory.
Vice President LI Junqi delivering remarks
ZHENG Zhiming, Deputy Director of Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center, delivering a speech
Joining the event online, Academician CHEN Jun shared his academic guidance and offered recommendations on the laboratory’s academic priorities and system development. President ZHANG Dayu introduced the overall framework of the platform, noting that the laboratory was jointly established by BUCEA and the University of Novi Sad (Serbia) under the framework of the BRAUIC. The laboratory aims to become a high-level international cooperation platform integrating scientific research, talent cultivation, and technology transfer.
CHEN Jun, Chair of the Academic Committee and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivering a speech
BUCEA President ZHANG Dayu, Director of the Laboratory, delivering a speech
During the appointment ceremony, Deputy Director ZHENG Zhiming and President ZHANG Dayu presented appointment certificates to members of the Academic Committee. The Academic Committee consists of:
Chair:
CHEN Jun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at the National Geomatics Center of China
Members (Listed in stroke order of Chinese surnames):
TIAN Lin, Director and Professor, Institute of Architecture and Public Art, Chinese National Academy of Arts
LIU Lin'an, Professor, BUCEA
TANG Yuyang, Executive Vice President and Professor, Beijing Great Wall Cultural Research Institute
LI Aiqun, Professor, BUCEA, and Beijing Scholar
DI Yajing, Director & Research Fellow of the World Heritage Monitoring Department, Palace Museum
YANG Changming, Professor, Beijing University of Technology
ZHANG Jie, National Engineering Survey and Design Master, Professor at Tsinghua University, and Distinguished Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, BUCEA
ZHANG Yukun, Professor, Tianjin University
ZHAO Zhongshu, Professor-level Senior Engineer, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design
JIANG Jie, Professor, BUCEA; National Leading Talent in Scientific and Technological Innovation under the “Ten Thousand Talents Program”; Beijing Scholar
ZHAN Changfa, Second-Level Research Fellow, China Academy of Cultural Heritage
LIAO Zhengxin, Vice President and Professor-level Senior Engineer, Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning and Design
Francesca Lucia Maria Albani, Professor, Politecnico di Milano
Issuance of appointment certificates to members of the Academic Committee
Following the appointment ceremony, the laboratory announced its first practical initiative, the BUCEA–Politecnico di Milano–Chongqing University International Joint Workshop on Architectural Heritage.
Vice President CHEN Chaohui declaring the workshop open
QI Ying, Head of the Department of Historic Building Preservation, introducing the workshop
Group photo
Following the launch ceremony, the Academic Committee convened its first working meeting, chaired by SHI Yang, Vice Dean of the School of Architecture. YANG Yifan, Director of the Joint Laboratory Office, presented the laboratory's development plan, and President ZHANG Dayu concluded the meeting by outlining the next steps based on the experts’ recommendations.
Working meeting of the Academic Committee
Members of the Academic Committee attending the meeting
Group photo of advisors for the International Joint Workshop
Discussions at the Workshop
The official launch of the Joint Laboratory marks a new stage in BUCEA’s international cooperation, which has advanced from framework agreements to substantive collaboration in scientific research and talent development. Looking ahead, the laboratory will continue to strengthen partnerships with institutions in Serbia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, and other Belt and Road countries, promote research on architectural heritage conservation technologies, and build a long-term platform for international scientific collaboration, joint talent cultivation, and outcome sharing.