On the afternoon of May 27, the Tripartite Institute-Directors Symposium, co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning & Design, the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, and the Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning & Design Institute (THUPDI), was convened at THUPDI. The Beijing Institute was represented by Director Shi Xiaodong, Party Secretary Liu Hong, Deputy Party Secretary Zhang Xiaoxin, Party Committee Member and Deputy Director He Qin, Deputy Director Lu Lin, Chief Planner and Director of the Planning and Financial Office Lü Haihong, and Chief Engineer’s Office (Editorial Department) Director Zhou Le.

Focusing on the theme of “Reshaping Planning Value,” the leaders of the three institutes engaged in extensive discussions on topics such as adapting to or driving industry change, deepening technical and business exchanges, and collaborative work among the institutes. It was collectively acknowledged that the planning discipline’s knowledge system is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with greater depth, comprehensiveness, and complexity in planning work. The extended industry chain demands higher and broader competencies from planners. In response to these challenges, the symposium reached several key consensus points:

1) Extending the Industry Chain: Focus on extending the value chain at both ends with space as the core, building think tanks upstream and providing services downstream.

2) Leveraging Planning Leadership: Utilize planning to guide key sectors and areas, capitalize on top-level design, and address practical issues effectively.

3) Creating Diverse Application Scenarios: Transition from traditional engineering thinking to internet thinking, and from two-dimensional land use to three-dimensional refined spatial governance.

4) Investing in Technology: Embrace informatization and artificial intelligence, as smart and digital solutions are pivotal for business transformation. The integration of planning and digital technology is the future trend, and finding application scenarios for data and business is crucial.

5) Focusing on Talent Development: Manage talent scientifically and effectively, motivating and utilizing young professionals. Build confidence, boost morale, and train well-rounded talents, with an emphasis on economics and big data expertise. Foster system thinking and problem-oriented capabilities so as to instill more confidence and pride into the industry.