On April 22, 2024, Mr. Rui LEÃO, Secretary-General of the International Union of Architects, former Chairman of the International Portuguese Language Architects Association, former Director of the Macao International Modern Movement Architecture and Site Record Protection Committee, and founder of LBA Architecture Firm, was invited by the Original Design Research Center of Shenzhen University to visit Shenzhen University and attend the ‘Future of Architecture’ academic exchange meeting.

Subsequently, Secretary-General Rui Leão, representing the International Union of Architects, held a symposium with the Student Branch of the China Architectural Society. Academician Meng Jianmin, Chairman of the Student Branch, Associate Professor Qu Fei, Secretary-General, and student member representatives attended the symposium. Qu Fei introduced to Secretary-General Rui Leão the organizational structure and work responsibilities of the Student Branch of the China Architectural Society, and also expressed expectations for future cooperation and exchanges. She hopes that Chinese architecture students can expand their horizons through such a global platform as the International Union of Architects, and that the diverse urban culture and innovative topics from the student perspective can receive more international attention. Academician Meng pointed out at the meeting that the Student Branch has a youthful spirit and has formed an innovative working model through years of exploration and development. Our student members are large in number and they all represent the new generation of power in Chinese architecture. The development of students can play a positive role in the construction of the China Architectural Society and the International Union of Architects. We look forward to developing more international members under the guidance of the International Union of Architects and playing a role on the international stage.

In the afternoon of that day, the academic exchange meeting ‘Future of Architecture - Secretary-General Rui LEÃO of the International Union of Architects (UIA) Enters Shenzhen University’ was held in the Original Lecture Hall of the Original Building at Shenzhen University, and it received a warm response. The event was guided by the Shenzhen Housing and Construction Bureau and Shenzhen University, hosted by the Original Design Research Center of Shenzhen University, co-organized by the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Shenzhen University, and supported by the Shenzhen Survey and Design Industry Association, the Shenzhen Civil Architecture Society, and the Shenzhen Architectural Design Research Institute Co., Ltd.