Chinese Wisdom Illuminates a New Chapter in Mauritania’s Urban Planning —SBS’ Mauritania Urban Planning and Construction Seminar Participants Visit the East China Architectural Design Institute (ECADI) of Arcplus Group PLC

On the afternoon of June 9th, Chen Wei, Party Secretary of College of International Education of Shanghai Business School (SBS), led a delegation to visit ECADI. The delegation was received by Zha Jun, Chief Planner of ECADI, and Yang Haijian, Deputy Director of the Marketing Department. Twenty-four officials from Mauritania’s Ministry of Housing, Urban Planning and Land Management, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Ministry of Commerce and Tourism participated in the event.

Photo: Participants touring the exhibition hall

Zha Jun delivered a lecture titled “Overall Planning and Management Implementation in Shanghai’s Urban Development”, providing an in-depth analysis of how Shanghai uses scientific planning to overcome the challenges of high-density urban development. He also detailed the implementation of cutting-edge concepts such as “vertical cities” and “composite buildings” in projects such as the Huangpu River waterfront renovation and the World Expo site redevelopment. Zha Jun stated that smart cities are not only about scientific planning but also about intelligent management and intelligent living. He suggested incorporating innovative technologies such as 5G networks, autonomous driving, big data, and artificial intelligence into smart construction. ECADI expressed its desire to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Mauritania in the field of smart cities to pursue common development.

The lecture was lively, and the participants showed great interest in Shanghai’s practice of coordinating transportation, ecology, and the preservation of historical context through detailed planning. They particularly focused on discussing the feasibility of implementing smart city concepts in Mauritania. Mr. Seydi Hemeid, Director of the Planning Research and Cooperation Department of Mauritania’s Ministry of Housing, Urban Planning and Land Management, noted that China has widely applied advanced science and technology in numerous fields. Mauritania is actively implementing measures to improve the quality of life for its people and strives to build an economically efficient and inclusive society. He emphasized that strengthening practical exchanges and cooperation between China and Mauritania will greatly contribute to the development of both countries, working together towards a common goal of low-carbon, green, and innovative development.

During the event, the Mauritanian officials also visited ECADI’s exhibition hall, gaining a deeper understanding of the company’s benchmark projects in airport hubs, medical care and rehabilitation, scientific research and education, exhibitions and conventions, historical preservation, and urban renewal.

Mr. Abderrahman Mohamed El Mokhtar, head of the seminar participants and technical advisor to the Mauritanian Ministry of Housing, Urban Planning and Land Management, expressed his gratitude for ECADI’s warm hospitality and generous sharing of knowledge. He emphasized that Shanghai’s experience proves that scientific planning can change a city’s destiny, and Mauritania will learn from Chinese wisdom to develop urban planning paths suitable for its national conditions.

Photo: Participants taking a group photo at ECADI

ECADI is a leading comprehensive architectural design and research institution in China, a subsidiary of Arcplus Group PLC. As early as the 1960s, ECADI participated in the construction of the Mauritanian National Stadium. ECADI consistently adheres to a development strategy of international advancement and domestic leadership, committed to providing innovative design and consulting services for high-quality urban and rural development.

This visit laid a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two sides. Leveraging the platform of the Ministry of Commerce Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai) at SBS, it allowed Mauritanian officials to experience the firsthand practical experience and achievements of China in urban planning and construction, further enhancing exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Mauritanian cities, illuminating a new chapter in Mauritania’s urban planning with Chinese wisdom.

Reported by: Faculty of International Education