On November 7th 2024, Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), visited Guangxi University to participate in the international standardization event themed “Shared Vision for a Better World”, co-hosted by the Guangxi Market Regulation Administration and Guangxi University. During the event, Mujica unveiled the Secretariat of the ISO Subcommittee on Steel-Concrete Composite Structures and Hybrid Structures (ISO/TC 71/SC 9) and delivered a keynote speech.
Prominent attendees included Lu Xinning, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangxi Committee and Vice Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Li Yubing, Deputy Director-General of the Standards Innovation Department at China’s State Administration for Market Regulation and ISO/TMB China Representative; and senior officials from the Guangxi government, the Guangxi Market Regulation Administration, and the Guangxi University leadership. The ceremony was chaired by Han Linhai, President of Guangxi University and Chair of ISO/TC 71/SC 9.
The unveiling ceremony took place at Yulin Hall, Junwu Building, Guangxi University. Mujica, along with Lu Xinning, Li Yubing, and other officials, jointly inaugurated the ISO/TC 71/SC 9 Secretariat. On behalf of Guangxi University. Li Guozhong, Secretary of the CPC Guangxi University Committee, presented a gift to Mujica. Mujica commended the subcommittee’s contributions, highlighting the significance of the newly published ISO 16521:2024, Design of Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular (CFST) Hybrid Structures, which was led by China and chaired by Han Linhai. Mujica emphasized the standard’s global importance in promoting safe and effective applications of CFST structures and encouraged the subcommittee to continue its active role in developing and disseminating international standards. In his remarks, Han Linhai pledged that Guangxi University, as the Secretariat’s host, will fulfill its responsibilities and collaborate with global experts to advance international standardization in the field, contributing to the development of civil engineering infrastructure worldwide.
Prior to the ceremony, Mujica delivered a keynote speech titled “International Standards: A Shared Vision for a Better World” to over 200 faculty and students. He also engaged with attendees on topics including participation in ISO standard development, cultivating international standardization talent, and the role of standards in reducing carbon emissions.
The ISO 16521:2024 standard, officially released on September 20, 2024, is the first ISO standard in the CFST field and has been adopted as a national standard by countries such as the United Kingdom. Approved by ISO’s Technical Management Board in April 2024, the ISO/TC 71/SC 9 Subcommittee is the first of its kind within ISO to focus on steel-concrete composite and hybrid structures. Han Linhai serves as its inaugural chair.
