ICES President Visits China

ICES President was invited by the Chinese International Contractor's Association (CHINCA), via ICES Hong Kong Region, to visit their office in Beijing and attend the China Asean Expo in Nanning.

The President of the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES), Robert C.

Fleming, was invited by the Chinese International Contractor's Association (CHINCA), via ICES Hong Kong Region, to visit their office in Beijing and attend the China Asean Expo in Nanning this November.

Robert Fleming was accompanied by Eric Lo, Chair of ICES Hong Kong Region, Miranda Lui, a member of ICES, at the meeting with CHINCA in Beijing on 1st November 2004.

They received a warm welcome from Chi Changai, the Vice-Chairman of CHINCA.

A cooperation agreement was signed between CHINCA and ICES, and further discussion followed over lunch hosted by Vice-Chairman of CHINCA, Diao Chunhe.

Robert Fleming and Eric Lo then continued their trip to south China, arriving at Nanning on 3rd November to attend the opening ceremony of the China Asean Expo for International Economic and Technology Cooperation.

It is a major event with over ten Asian countries, including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, taking part with thousands of invitees.

The Expo was opened by the Deputy Premier of China.

All large state-owned contractors had exhibition stands with senior staff members in attendance.

Mr Fleming gave a speech to a construction seminar the next day on adjudication, in English with simultaneous translation.

Other speakers came from Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, as well as from China.

A further construction seminar was held on 5th November, when Eric Lo gave a speech introducing ICES, its aims and objectives in Mandarin.

During the visit, Robert Fleming and Eric Lo made a return visit to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping and the Guangxi Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, who came to ICES' headquarters in Sale in July 2004.

They had a very interesting discussion with Fan Jingsheng, the Deputy Director for Foreign Affairs, and Li Genhong, the Secretary General of the Chinese Society for Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography.

The Institution is looking to forge a future relationship with the Guangxi Bureau.

During the trip, the courtesy and hospitality of CHINCA and the State Bureau was excellent.

Robert Fleming's impression was that it was 'All in all, a never to be forgotten experience'.

He said that China is really on the move in an international sense.

The Institution should accept that and work with them.

In his opinion, in less than ten years time, China could be the next major world power.

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