2015 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHINESEAND AFRICAN SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION

A CANADIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Welcome Words
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it is our pleasure to welcome you all to the 2015 International Conference on Chinese and African Sustainable Urbanization: A Canadian and International Perspective (ICCASU)! Taking place between October 24th-25th 2015 in Ottawa, the conference proceedings are done in partnership between the University of Ottawa and the United Nations Human Settlements Programe (UN Habitat). With the gorgeous fall colours now upon us, we hope that you have nothing short of an enjoyable and rewarding experience in Canada’s National Capital Region, and appreciate your esteemed
presence and participation. During these two days, over 100 scholars, practitioners and policy-makers from 64 institutions, 18 countries, and across multiple disciplines will discuss and debate the issue of urbanization in China and Africa. We are delighted that our conference is one of several events leading up to Habitat III, scheduled to take place next October in Quito, Ecuador, and we are pleased to provide you with such a fascinating and interdisciplinary event within the context of the new UN Development Agenda Beyond 2015. Taking place at the University of Ottawa, the conference will explore urban challenges in China and African states, the complex issues surrounding Chinese investments in African urban development, and compare them with Canadian urban experiences. As Canada has traditionally been in engagement with Africa for quite some time now, we will also be contemplating the shifts in the Canadian approach to development and urbanization in African states. We will also explore the Chinese context by examining China, Canada’s second economic partner, specifically the ways in which its engagement in African states differs from, and even acts as a substitute for diminishing western engagement. The ICCASU is grateful to our strong supporters, especially our host, the University of Ottawa, as well as other prominent academic units and institutions, such as Tsinghua University’s Urbanization Center, the Center for African Studies of Peking University, the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta’s China Institute, the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism and the Institute of African Studies, both at Carleton University here in Ottawa, the Canadian China Thinking Centre, the Ottawa Urban Forum, and the Angola Development Workshop. Finally, we would like to extend our sincerest welcome to you all. We wish you an exceptional experience, the creation of new and exciting memories, not to mention new and sustainable collaborations. Have a wonderful stay in Ottawa!

2015 ICCASU Organizing Committee
Ottawa, Canada

FULL CONFERENCE PROGRAM FOR DOWNLOAD

Description

The University of Ottawa and UN-Habitat are inviting submissions to present papers and posters, and to organize workshops, forums or panels at the 2015 International Conference on Chinese and African Sustainable Urbanization (ICCASU): A Canadian and International Perspective, taking place in Ottawa, Canada, October 24-25, 2015.  This conference is one of several events leading up to Habitat III, the UN Conference on housing and sustainable urban development taking place in October 2016 in Quito, Ecuador. The ICCASU will contribute to understanding on sustainable urbanization in regions of the world most crucially facing these issues, and thus will facilitate knowledge exchanges leading up to Habitat III next year.

Over the last several decades China and many African countries have experienced rapid urbanization. The accelerated pace of China’s urbanization will have unique impacts on the country’s urban systems. The challenges and opportunities in China’s cities provide unique insight into urbanization processes in other regions, particularly those of African states. Recent Chinese investments in African countries significantly impacts economic development on the continent, which has important implications for urban development strategies. This interdisciplinary conference will explore urban challenges in China and African states, the complexities of Chinese investments in African urbanization, and compare them with Canadian urban experiences. Specifically, the ICCASU will feature panels on urban systems in China, Canada and African states, as well as a special workshop on urbanization and identity-based conflict (Please see Call for abstracts for each Panel in annex of the document).

The capital of Canada has been chosen as the site for this conference, as it provides an opportunity for a diverse array of scholars, practitioners and policy-makers to share their experiences of urbanization in the countries of focus from a particularly Canadian perspective. This conference also provides an opportunity for participants to contemplate the shifts in Canada’s approach to development and urbanization in African states, particularly under the leadership of its most recent government, and the ways in which Chinese engagement in African states differs from, and even acts as a substitute for diminishing western engagement. The ICCASU enjoys the support of prominent keynote speakers, including H.E. ANU’A-GHEYLE Solomon AZOH-MBI, High Commissioner of Cameroon; Alioune Badiane, Director, Programme Division from UN-Habitat; Caroline Andrew, Professor Emeritus from the University of Ottawa; Evelyn Peters, Canada Research Chair from the University of Winnipeg; Chaolin Gu, Professor from Tsinghua University, China; John Zacharias, Chair Professor from Peking University, China; Allan Cain, Director from Development Workshop, Angola; etc.; as well as institutions such as Tsinghua University, the Munk School of Global Affairs, the University of Alberta’s China Institute, and the Development Workshop Angola. Scholars and practitioners across multiple disciplines and country contexts will gather at the University of Ottawa to discuss these complex topics. This event will provide the opportunity for discussions regarding Canadian and/or Chinese engagement in African states, and strengthening Sino-Canadian partnerships.