The leaders of the world’s consulting engineering industry gather in Beijing for FIDIC’s Annual Conference and General Assembly Meeting. China, with a proud history stretching back thousands of years and over one-fifth of the world’s population, has a fast-developing economy. Beijing, China’s capital and host to the 2008 Olympics, is rich with the history of a centuries’ old culture, yet reflects the vibrancy and energy that is the hallmark of a vast country on the move.

FIDIC stated in a 1998 visioning document that "increasingly, sustainability will be the primary measure of project success". Believing sustainability to be a huge future market opportunity, and that engineers are the key to getting it done, FIDIC has worked hard to establish a strong position in sustainable development.

FIDIC will devote its 2005 conference to both defining and accepting the challenge of global leadership in sustainable engineering, with a programme that focuses on defining a "how to" action plan for the world’s consulting engineers.

The current status of sustainability and the major obstacles to its continued implementation are the focus of invited keynote presentations by clients, practitioners and representatives of the United Nations, multilateral development banks, the World Trade Organization, and the Chinese government.

Participants, using their experience and knowledge, will help develop the action plan that responds to the challenges raised by keynote speakers.

A unique feature of the conference is an optional fourth day (Thursday, 8 September) during which major development programmes will be showcased by officials and others directly involved in these important market opportunities:

• Beijing Olympics 2008

• Shanghai World Expo 2010

• South to north water diversion programme

• Development of China’s western region

• Reconstruction of China’s northeast industrial base

In summary, FIDIC 2005 Beijing will allow participants to:

• Eliminate the mystique and grasp the reality of sustainability, by learning from leading practitioners the "how to" techniques for applying sustainability principles to projects in the client’s interests.

• Learn how to evaluate and analyse projects to achieve the optimum balance between environmental, social and economic benefits.

• Participate in the development of a plan to assume a global leadership position in the large future market opportunity that is sustainable engineering.

• Hear about major project opportunities in the fast growing Chinese market, where the plan for sustainable engineering can be implemented.

• Network with major clients and leaders of the world’s consulting engineering industry.

Along with a focussed business programme, FIDIC 2005 Beijing includes an exciting programme of optional tours and events that will immerse participants in China’s rich culture and history. Tours include visits to the Forbidden City, which is close by the conference venue (the world-famous Beijing Hotel), the fabulous Summer Palace, the breathtaking Great Wall, the Ming Palace and the tomb of the terracotta warriors.

Richard Kell, AM, FTSE, FIDIC President
She Jianming, CNAEC Chairman