January 16, 2025, the 44th Council Meeting of the Architects Regional Council Asia (hereinafter referred to as ARCASIA) was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during which the presidential election took place. Professor Wu Jiang from Tongji University, renowned for his outstanding achievements and extensive influence in the field of architecture, was successfully elected as the new President of ARCASIA, marking the first time that a president hails from Mainland China since the establishment of the association.

This is the first time a Chinese architect from the Mainland has been elected. Behind me stands China, Tongji University, and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University. Thank you all! Professor Wu Jiang excitedly exclaimed upon receiving warm congratulations from all quarters.

Professor Wu Jiang serves as a Standing Council Member of the Architectural Society of China (ASC), Chairman of the Architectural Education Branch, Vice President of the China Urban Planning Society, President of the Shanghai Urban Planning Society, Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Member of the French Academy of Architecture. He formerly held positions such as Executive Vice President of Tongji University and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Urban Planning Bureau. His academic research and theoretical practice focus on heritage conservation and reuse, urban renewal, and delicate governance in Chinese cities. His scholarly contributions have been praised by the AIA for not only influencing urban construction practitioners and managers in Shanghai and China but also shaping urban conservation and renewal ideas in Asia, the United States, Europe, and other regions worldwide. Professor Wu Jiang has long made outstanding contributions to enhancing the influence of Chinese and Asian architects on the international stage. He was elected Vice President of ARCASIA in 2018 and, on behalf of the ASC, led his team to deeply engage in ARCASIA's activities, including organizing the 19th ARCASIA Congress as its President, hosting or co-hosting ARCASIA Executive Board meetings and Zone C Presidential meetings, serving as the convenor for three rounds of the ARCASIA Award for Architecture selection, and editing 17 issues of the ARCASIA official journal, Architecture Asia (in English). The ASC delegation posed for a group photo at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall.

The meeting was held at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall, built with Chinese assistance in the 1970s. Professor Wu Jiang's election as ARCASIA President not only recognizes his personal academic excellence and leadership but also highlights the increasing influence, activity, and voice of the ASC in the international architectural field. It reflects the trust and expectations of Asian countries in Chinese architects to play a greater role in international architectural affairs. ARCASIA, founded in Jakarta, Indonesia, is the most representative and authoritative architects' organization in Asia. It currently has member institutes from multiple Asian countries and regions. The ASC joined ARCASIA as a national member in 1989 and has maintained good relations with ARCASIA and its member institutes for nearly 40 years.