Chinese delegation visits to explore green building

Delegation members include planners and builders from gov't agencies as well as representatives from architecture and utility firms.

By SHARON UDASIN
ecotower 311 (photo credit: Azouri Towers)
ecotower 311
(photo credit: Azouri Towers)
A delegation of planners and builders from southern China arrived in Israel on Monday to explore and learn from the new trend of “green” architecture underway here, due to the increasing demand for such construction there, the Economy and Trade Ministry announced that day.
The ministry’s commercial attaché in Guangzhou and its Environment and Sustainable Development Administration jointly organized the delegation’s visit, aiming to foster potential business between Israeli and Chinese partners in green building.
Approximately every five days, construction of a brand new skyscraper concludes in China, the ministry noted. Hailing from the southern province of Guangdong, the 19 delegation members included planners and builders from government agencies as well as representatives from architecture and utility firms, according to the ministry.
The delegates will visit several companies, such as DIP Tech, Tigo and Carmel Chemicals, and will also see green building at Intel and the new campus for Tel Aviv University’s Porter School for Environmental Studies. In addition, they will meet with members of the Israel Standards Institute to learn about Israel’s new standards for green building, the Economy and Trade Ministry said.
The Environment and Sustainable Development Administration at the Economy and Trade Ministry attaches great importance to the continued cooperation between Israel and China and aims to strengthen professional partnerships particularly in the fields of architecture, engineering, interior design, urban planning and energy efficiency technologies, the office noted.
Green construction and smart city development could be two particular areas of cooperation for the countries going forward, combining Israeli technological development with China’s domestic market development demand, said Dani Tal, commercial attaché in Guangzhou.
China set green building as a target in its 12th five-year plan of the current government, and rapid urbanization has led to buildings accounting for one-third of the country’s energy consumption needs, the Economy and Trade Ministry said. The Chinese government has increasingly expressed interest in seeking external solutions for green building and has demonstrated interest in learning from leaders in the field, the office added.