Abstract

At a key industry forum held during the launch phase of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the full implementation of the country’s “Dual Carbon” strategy, Chen Yiming delivered an important keynote address on the future of modern timber construction in China. He emphasized that while the sector is entering a historic period of opportunity, significant shortcomings remain in industrial supply chains, design parameters, talent development, technical standards, and engineering systems. He called for coordinated efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period to expand project scale and promote high-quality industry development.

On March 20, 2026, the “Light of Timber 2026: New Spaces and New Practices in Modern Timber Construction Forum” was held in Beijing. During the event, Chen Yiming delivered a keynote speech titled “Seizing Opportunities and Reaching a New Level”, outlining a strategic roadmap for the next five years of timber construction development in China.

Chen noted that 2026 marks the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. In January, the Chinese and Canadian governments signed a bilateral agreement to jointly promote green building initiatives. As a representative form of sustainable construction, timber structures are now facing unprecedented development opportunities.

He stressed that the development of China’s timber construction industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period should focus on two central themes: “seizing opportunities” and “reaching a new level.” According to Chen, the concept of “reaching a new level” specifically encompasses five key objectives:

• Expansion of engineering project scale
• Extension and integration of the industrial supply chain
• Strengthening of professional talent development
• Improvement and scientific refinement of standards and regulations
• Enhancement of technical systems and engineering capabilities

Three Major Challenges Facing the Industry

In his remarks, Chen also identified three major weaknesses currently limiting the industry’s progress.

1. Incomplete Industrial Supply Chain

Although China already possesses the capability to manufacture timber construction components, the overall industrial chain remains underdeveloped and fragmented.

Using door closers as an example, Chen explained that inadequate coordination between supporting components can lead to failures in the overall system performance. In modern timber construction, structural connections heavily rely on specialized metal connectors. However, China has yet to establish a fully integrated product and technical system that ensures the compatibility and safety performance of these connection components.

2. Lack of Targeted Design Parameters

Chen pointed out that many timber building projects in China still rely on design parameters originally developed for concrete structures, without sufficient consideration of the unique physical properties of wood materials.

He emphasized that systematic scientific testing is essential to accurately understand timber’s bending, compression, and flexural performance characteristics. Only with reliable performance data can engineers carry out scientifically sound and structurally optimized timber building designs.

3. Need for Stronger Talent Development

While China has already cultivated a certain foundation of professionals in timber construction, the industry’s talent resources remain relatively scattered, and high-level professional exchange platforms are still insufficient.

Chen stated that stronger collaboration and knowledge-sharing between designers and engineering professionals are critical for accelerating technological advancement and improving practical implementation capabilities across the industry.

Industry Outlook

In conclusion, Chen Yiming stated that awareness and recognition of modern timber construction have deepened significantly across the industry, and consensus around its future development continues to expand.

At the same time, he emphasized that these opportunities also place higher expectations on industry participants. He encouraged professionals across the sector to confront challenges directly and contribute actively to the advancement of China’s modern timber construction industry.

Source:
Fangchan.com Article Source

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