ASIAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON PERI-URBANIZATION:

EMERGING ISSUES AND PRACTICES

May 7 -10, 2017

Tongji University

Shanghai, China

Organized by Tongji University and The East-West Center

Peri-urbanization is the process of economic, social and spatial attributes of rural areas outside urban core built-up areas changing to urban areas. Accompanying the rapid urbanization process, peri-urbanization in Asia has attracted wide attention in recent years. Peri-urban areas are the most rapidly growing and most dynamic areas in Asian city-regions. Scholars and research institutions forecast that in the next 15 years, nearly 200 million people will move into peri-urban areas in East Asian countries. According to the United Nations, the peri-urban areas in East Asian countries will accommodate 477 million people in 2025.

Peri-urban areas are usually controversial. On one hand, these areas are one of the most dynamic economic regions, but they also get criticized for issues including urban sprawl, pollution, social injustice, destruction of natural landscape, and social disintegration in local communities. However, studies have shown that it is possible for spatial planning to mitigate negative effects of peri-urbanization, though Asian countries’ planning systems need capacity building and innovations to do this. Therefore, understanding and improving planning for peri-urban areas is critical to economic development, social equity and the built environment.

With rapid progress of urbanization, the drivers of peri-urbanization and their underlying mechanisms are highly diversified. Academic awareness of this process often lags behind what happens in reality. What are the emerging trends of peri-urbanization across Asian economies? What are the drivers of peri-urbanization in Asian economies? More importantly, how can urban and regional planning contribute to manage peri-urbanization in the pursuit of a better quality of life?These will be the subjects of discussion in the 2017 peri-urbanization conference at Tongji University, Shanghai, China co-sponsored by the East-West Center and Tongji University.

I  PARTICIPATION

The 2017 Peri-urbanization conference will accept 50 delegates from outside of mainland China and 100 delegates from mainland China. Participation in this conference is by invitation only. Those who have expertise in peri-urbanization, coordinated urban-rural development, urbanization, and other related themes are especially welcome to this conference. If you are interested in being part of this conference, please contact the conference organizing staff at periurbanization@126.com.

II  ACCOMODATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSE

Tongji University will provide invited international participants lodging, meals, as well as fees for a field trip. Participants are expected to pay for their own travel expenses and lodging.

CO-HOST:

College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, China

The East-West Center, United State of America

PARTNER INSTITUTIONS:

Bushan University, Korea

Oita University, Japan

November 6th, 2016