The UK-China Green Hospital Design Summit took place in London last week.
It successfully brought together 20 influential Chinese hospital leaders with dozens of UK healthcare specialists in sustainability, hospital design and development.
The event recognised the huge long-term potential for sustainable hospital development in China, and the day-long summit gave delegates a platform to discuss challenges and opportunities, resulting in UK experts being invited to look at projects in Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. Eleven speakers, each experts in their field, addressed the delegates and opened the discussions.
Zhang Jianzhong, president of Shanghai Health Capital Construction Administration Centre, was delighted with the high level of knowledge and engagement. Speaking after the event he said that the Chinese delegates ‘learnt a lot of green hospital best practice from this summit'.
“China and the UK are at different development stages with different demands and the conference definitely helped us rethink how UK experience can help China
British experts were equally enthusiastic. Tim Cuell from engineer, WSP Group, said the conference would affect WSP’s approach to the health sector in China. He added: “China and the UK are at different development stages with different demands and the conference definitely helped us rethink how UK experience can help China."
And Annie Chen from Arup said the event helped Arup 'explore a truly-sustainable solution in addressing the challenges ahead'. She also praised the conference for providing 'a fantastic platform for healthcare experts to meet, share best practice and exchange innovative ideas'.
The comments from speakers and delegates were echoed by Dr Ying Ying Tian, director of the China Design Centre. He said: “There was a lively exchange between our Chinese delegation of hospital leaders and UK hospital design experts. We are excited to hear that everyone found the summit so helpful in achieving mutual understanding and collaboration between the two countries. This is what China Design Centre is aiming for. ”
His comments were endorsed by Tim Cuell who said 'China Design Centre did an excellent job to co-ordinate the communication between two languages, two systems, and two cultures in one room'.
The initiative by the Chinese Hospital Association was supported by China Design Centre, UKTI, The Building Centre and MIC. The event took place at the Building Centre in London.
- Companies:
- Department for International Trade
- Ove Arup and Partners
- WSP UK Ltd Leeds
- China Design Centre
