From October 3 to October 5, 2023, a delegation from China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd. consisting of Gong Jianfei, Yang Shenggui, Wang Tao, and Xi Shaofei, at the invitation of the Organizing Committee of the 100+ International Construction Forum of the Russian Federation, traveled respectively to Yekaterinburg and Moscow in the Russian Federation to participate in academic conferences, hold discussions and exchanges, sign cooperation agreements, and conduct site visits.

The main purpose of this visit was to learn about the latest progress of the Russian Federation in geotechnical engineering research, including such major topics as geotechnical investigation, development and utilization of historic buildings and underground space, foundations of high-rise buildings, green and low-carbon technologies, and digital platform research, as well as the development of the construction industry. At the same time, the delegation signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement with the Russian Federation Building Research Center and discussed possible future academic cooperation, so as to promote the company's participation in international dialogue and strengthen international academic exchanges.

The delegation attended the opening ceremony of the 100+ International Construction Forum and participated in exchanges at four academic forums: "Geotechnical Investigation for Special Engineering and Underground Engineering," "Technological Innovation in Urban Underground Space Development," "Foundations of High-Rise and Special Buildings," and "Underground Space Development beneath Historic Buildings." Focusing on anti-uplift of underground structures and foundation design of super high-rise buildings, the delegation delivered reports entitled "Cases of Uplift Accidents in Underground Structures and CABR's New Anti-Uplift Technology" and "Theory and Practice of Settlement Control of Pile Foundations for Super High-Rise Buildings in China." Both reports received positive feedback and enthusiastic questions from the scholars present. During the forum, a "Geotechnical Engineering Battle" peak confrontation was held between the Institute of Foundation Engineering of China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd. and the Institute of Foundation Engineering of the Russian Federation Building Research Center. The two sides engaged in intense exchanges on their respective national technical and industrial policies, urbanization processes and challenges, foundation design and construction of high-rise buildings, and protection of historic buildings, further deepening mutual integration and mutual learning and seeking more points of convergence for future cooperation. The "Geotechnical Engineering Battle" also received great attention and recognition from relevant leaders of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation attending the event.

During the conference, the delegation visited the 100+ International Construction Technology Exhibition. The Institute of Foundation Engineering of China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd., the Russian Federation Building Research Center Joint Stock Company, the Heilongjiang Provincial Research Institute of Cold Region Building Science, and Beijing Research Institute of Construction Mechanization Co., Ltd. signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement on site. After the signing, the four parties conducted in-depth discussions and exchange seminars on the cooperation agenda and specific matters. The agreement provides for cooperation within the business scope of the four parties in such fields as geotechnical engineering, underground structures, foundations, soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering equipment, and construction methods and techniques; joint conduct of theoretical, exploratory, and applied research and technological development; scientific and technological cooperation; promotion of the application of scientific and technological achievements; cooperation on the development and improvement of technical regulations and the preparation of specification- and method-type technical documents; and cooperation on jointly enhancing personnel professional qualification levels and training research personnel.

During their stay in Moscow, the delegation received a warm welcome from relevant leaders of the Russian Federation Building Research Center and was invited to visit projects in which the Building Research Center participated—the Moscow Kremlin renovation project and the Federation Tower project, the tallest building in Europe (with a main structure height of 365 meters and an architectural height of 509 meters, the world's tallest all-reinforced-concrete building). During the visit, the two sides conducted extensive and in-depth exchanges on the reinforcement and renovation of historic buildings and the foundation design and construction of super high-rise buildings.

This visit was the first international academic exchange activity organized by the Institute of Foundation Engineering after the pandemic. Through this international exchange, the team further learned about the new trends and current development status of the Russian Federation in the field of geotechnical engineering research, and opened up channels for external cooperation and exchange, making a positive contribution to the participation of the Institute of Foundation Engineering and even China Academy of Building Research in international cooperation and exchange.