REPORT OF THE SAAE DELEGATION ON A VISIT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

DELEGATES

• Dr P W B Kruger (leader)
  FSAAE, CEO: BKS Group
• Prof F W Leuschner
  FSAAE, Head: Department of Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering and Chairman: School of Engineering, UP
• Mr W J Pienaar
  Nominated FSAAE, CEO Tolplan Consulting
• Mr P Roux
  CEO, Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)
• Prof F P Hugo
  FSAAE (On visit dated 20 November - 25 November 2002)

Assisted by:

• Mr Y Wang Executive Vice-Chairman of China-Africa Engineering Association (CAEA) in South Africa
• Mr P Nordengen, CSIR

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding of Co-operation Agreement between SAAE and CAE at the CAE Head Office in Beijing on 15 October 2002. It was signed by Mr Xu Kuangdi, President CAE (left) and Dr P W B Kruger, President SAAE (right).

PURPOSE OF THE VISIT

• Signing of an Agreement of Co-operation with the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)
• Delivering of technical papers at various forums and discussing subjects of mutual interest.
• Exploring the development of a long-term productive relationship between South African and Chinese private and public engineering institutions.

DURATION

12 - 22 October 2002

CITIES VISITED

Beijing and Jinan

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• About 200 years ago Napoleon remarked that China was a sleeping giant. Today there is little doubt that this giant is waking up. A super power is developing which eventually can far exceed even the United States. The levels of private entrepreneurship and technological development are impressive.
• China, with a stabilising population of 1300 million, has for the past two decades maintained GNP growth of more than 9% per year. This represents the best performing country in the world and compares especially well with current growths of almost recessionary nature in most other important countries.
• China has 1060 universities and 60% of the students are enrolled in science and/or engineering. Opportunities for university exchange programmes for lecturers and students have been discussed and should receive further attention.
• The media and public statements widely carry the theme of "CHINA IS CHANGING TOWARDS A MARKET DRIVEN KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY". Information technology and the newer bio- and nano-technologies are highly supported in many large and modern High-Technology Industrial Development Zones.
• The large scale of the Chinese market in many ways provides significant opportunities for South African trade and industry.
• A massive construction programme of infrastructure like roads, railways, dams, water systems, buildings, etc. is largely funded out of own savings and with probably no equal elsewhere in the world. To illustrate: According to the President of CAE more than 2000 highrise buildings have been completed in Shanghai over the past 10 years. Since 1996 about 16 000 km of expressway have been constructed and present plans call for the completion of a further 2000 km per year up to 2010. The Chinese main road system stretches over some 1,7million km and includes some 280 000 bridges. It is said that of the 10 largest bridges in the world, 8 are in China.
• Beijing is preparing well for the 2008 Olympics with new stadia and infrastructure including large expansion of its subway system.
• The 5000km long Big Wall remains the most impressive engineering symbol of China. Construction by the military using 300 000 slaves started 2200 years ago under the rule of the First Dynasty.
• The SAAE delegation has been very well received at a number of scheduled public and specially arranged private technical forums and banquets. Papers have been presented on subjects and at forums as listed below and in all cases have been very well received. All presentations of papers and formal discussions are somewhat limited by the fact that everything has to be translated.
• The position of CAE President is regarded in China to be at ministerial level. He speaks on behalf of 10 million engineers in China. This implied that the SAAE President received similar treatment at official functions and meetings.
• On 11 November 2002 the so-called 4th Generation took over the Government in China with an engineer, Mr Hu Jingtao (60), as President. The retiring President, Mr Jiang Zhemin (76) took office in 1989 and is also an engineer.
• A major portion of the delegation's costs within China, has been paid by the CAE, the China-Africa Engineering Association (CAEA) or a government authority. For this and for financial support on other costs the SAAE expresses its greatest appreciation. The other costs in China and the flight costs were born by members of the delegation, ECSA, University of Pretoria and a limited amount by the SAAE. The delegation is also very grateful to Mr Yuchen Wang for arranging the whole programme very successfully and facilitating all meetings and transportation needs in China.

RECORD OF MEETINGS AND PAPERS PRESENTED

The following formal meetings and presentations of papers took place during the delegation's visit to China.

Monday, 14 October 2002

• Sino-South African Forum on Road Network Management Information Technology - Beijing. Sponsors:
• Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)
• South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE)
• Chinese Society of Traffic Engineering (CSTE)
• China-Africa Engineering Association (CAEA)

Introductory Statements

• Mr Yao Zhen Zhong, Director General of the Research Institute of Highways (RIOH)
• Dr Bingle Kruger, President SAAE
• Mr Paul Nordengen, representing CAEA

Paper by SAAE

• Mr W J Pienaar, Tolplan Consulting, Toll Roads and Technology Application in South Africa

Mr Paul Nordengen also presented a paper on behalf of the CSIR on the subject South African Vehicle Overloading Control, and Mr Yuchen Wang a paper on SA Integrated Infrastructure Management System.

The South African National Roads Agency also presented two papers at this Forum. They formed part of a South African Government delegation visiting China and led by the Minister of Transport, Mr Dullah Omar.

After the Forum the SAAE delegation visited the Beijing Vehicle Test Ground of the Ministry of Transport. The facility is one of the largest in Asia and tests both vehicles and new ICTS products.

Tuesday, 15 October 2002

Workshop on Registration of Professional Engineers in South Africa

Presentation by Mr P Roux, CEO of ECSA, to the Ministry of Personnel of the People's Republic of China on the role of ECSA and the Registration Process.

Discussions took place with the Deputy Minister of Personnel of the People's Republic of China and between the SAAE delegation and members of the Ministry of Personnel led by the Director-General, Ms Liu.

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding of Co-operation Agreement between SAAE and CAE at the CAE Head Office in Beijing. Memorandum signed by Mr Xu Kuangdi, President CAE en Dr P W B Kruger, President SAAE in the presence of other CAE representatives and the SAAE delegation. The CAE President then hosted a banquet at the State House, where heads of State and other dignitaries are frequently hosted.

·

Thursday, 17 October 2002

Lectures at Beijing Polytechnical University where the delegation also met with the Chairman of the Board of the University, Prof Son, and the Vice-President, Prof Liu.

• Prof F W Leuschner, Chairman, UP School of Engineering
  Information Communications Technology Education in South Africa (See Report)
• Dr P W B Kruger, President SAAE
  Basic Challenges to the Engineering Industry in South Africa.
• Dr P W B Kruger, President SAAE
  Consulting Engineering 2002

Meeting with Dr Jian Song, previously Minister of Science and technology and the former President of CAE. He is currently Vice-Chairman of the National Consultative Committee (equivalent to the Senate) that is responsible for giving advice to the National People's Committee. Various areas of current and possible future co-operation in the area of science and technology were discussed. One of Dr Song's particular areas of interest regarding co-operation between China and South Africa is in the field of deep mining technology. He believes that co-operation with South Africa can develop untapped mineral resources in China.

Meeting with Dr Sijing Wang, fellow of CAE and President of the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering. He is also the current President of the International Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment. Dr Song attended the 9th International Congress of the International Association in Durban in September 2002. He then visited with certain members of SAAE in Pretoria and delivered a brief paper on Engineering Geology in China.

·

Friday, 18 October 2002

International Forum and EXPO on Information Technology Innovation - Jinan, Capital of Shandong Province (population 91 million)

• Attending opening ceremony by CAE President and the Governor of Shandong Province. The opening was attended by official representatives from about 15 countries and a number of representatives from the United Nations Economic and Social Commissions for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) headed by the Under Secretary General.
• Visiting the ICT Exposition consisting of a great diversity of state of the art ICT products.
• Discussions with Mr Guifang Shao, Vice-Governor of Shandong Province.

In the afternoon, the delegation attended the Government Forum, the first of four forums. The papers presented were as follows:

• The course of Chinese informationization, Zhu Gaofeng, CAE
• Regional co-operation mechanisms on ICT and the role of UNESCAP, Kim Hak-Su, Under Secretary-General, UNESCAP
• Economic Globalisation: opportunities & challenges for the Chinese manufacturing industry, Ma Songde, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology
• E-government and function & working efficiency of government, Gou Zhongwen, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Information Industry
• The function of government during the promotion of information technology innovation and industry development, Han Yuqun, Vice Governor, Shandong province
• Electronic government - playing an exemplary role to promote the application of information technology, Huang Zhiguang, Director of Information Technology Bureau, Government of Hong Kong Special Administration Region
• Challenges and opportunities in the new century high tech and capital market, Chen Qingquan, CAE
• Israel government policies and measures to promote and encourage hi-tech industries, Azriel Hemar, Deputy Chief Scientist, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Israel
• Digitalisation bringing hope to Jinan City, Xie Yutang, Mayor of Jinan.

·

Saturday, 19 October 2002

International Forum on Information Technology Innovation

Paper by SAAE
• Prof F W Leuschner, Chairman, UP School of Engineering Information Communications Technology Education in South Africa

Workshop with Shandong Provincial Department of Transportation and Municipality of Jinan on South African Advanced Transportation Technologies.

Papers by SAAE
• Mr W J Pienaar, Tolplan Consulting
  Toll Roads and Technology application in South Africa
• Dr P W B Kruger, President of SAAE
  Strategic Transportation Network Planning in Gauteng

During the afternoon the SAAE delegation was taken on a tour of the New Jinan High-tech Development Zone. The following can be noted about this impressive new development as one of some 35 other similar development zones in China.

• size 37,5 km2
• has 53 institutions, 11 universities and colleges (including Qilu Software College with 1000 students)
• 130 software companies
• co-operative partners include Intel, Sybase, Microsoft, IBM, HP, ORACLE, etc

.

• 10 000 technical staff (over 1000 MSc's and PhD's) - will build up to 50 000

CONCLUSION

The South African Academy of Engineering is still in its infancy and much still has to be done before it will be well established.

The Academy can play a major role in promoting social equity and economic development in South Africa particularly through its international connections and partnerships.

Success has been achieved with a delegation of SAAE visiting China and signing a Memorandum of Understanding of Co-operation between SAAE and CAE. Such efforts will allow the SAAE to become a fully participating member of the international community of engineering and technological sciences through achieving international support for membership of the international Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS).

Similar Agreements should be signed at the appropriate time with Academies of Engineering in selected countries of major importance for future trade and development of South Africa.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The SAAE greatfully acknowledge valuable assistance in various forms obtained inter alia from the following:

• The South African Embassy of the People's Republic of China
• Various central and provincial government departments in the People's Republic of China
• The President and Members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
• The Engineering Council of South Africa
• The Universities of Pretoria and Stellenbosch
• Tolplan Consulting (Pty) Ltd
• BKS Group (Pty) Ltd
• The CSIR and the CAEA through Mr Yuchen Wang and Mr Paul Nordengen

APPENDICES

Copies of the following documents are available from the SAAE office:

• Letter to thank the President of CAE for hospitality during the SAAE visit to China
• Copy of Memorandum of Understanding of Co-operation between SAAE and CAE
• Prof F W Leuschner: Report on Visit to the People's Republic of China as a Member of the SAAE Delegation: 12 - 21 October 2002
• Mr W J Pienaar: Observations in respect of Toll Roads and related Technologies in China
• Mr P Roux: Report by Paul Roux (CEO ECSA) on Visit by SAAE to the CAE. Observations from an ECSA Perspective.
• Prof F P Hugo: Brief Overview of Visit to China. November 20 - 25, 2002
• Mr Y Wang: Brief Report on assisting Dr Kruger and SAAE to visit CAE in October 2002