Greening the Chinese City: Infrastructure and Sustainability

The New Yorker's David Owen, The Atlantic's James Fallows and prominent Chinese architect Wu Jiang will discuss the role transportation infrastructure will play in the growth and development of cities in China.

China is making unprecedented and unrivaled investments in transportation infrastructure. It allocated some 40 percent of the $586 billion economic stimulus plan announced in 2008 to infrastructure projects, including the development of new ports and airports, as well as urban and inter-urban mass transit systems such as high-speed rail, subway, light-rail, and buses. At the same time China forges ahead on a massive highway construction initiative that leaves open the question of the extent of the country's ultimate commitment to private automobiles.

What is China's long-term transportation strategy? What are its implications for the future of its burgeoning cities and for its global and regional role? Perhaps most importantly, what do the decisions being made today in Beijing and across China tell us about our chances of minimizing or mitigating climate change?

Please join moderator David Owen, staff writer for The New Yorker, in a conversation with James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic, and Wu Jiang, prominent Chinese architect, urban planner and Vice President of Tongji University. They will discuss the role transportation infrastructure will play in the growth and development of cities in China.

Can't make it to this program? Tune in to the free live video webcast on AsiaSociety.org/Live from 6:30 to 8:00 pm ET. Online viewers are encouraged to submit their questions to moderator@asiasociety.org during the webcast.