ASTM International will host Mr. Pan Beichen of the Standardization Administration or China this fall as part of the ASTM Standards Expert Exchange Program (SEEP) initiative that was launched in 2008.

Mr. Pan Biechen has served as an officer in the division of materials of the industrial standards department at SAC since 2007. In this position, he works with China national standards for buildings and construction. Before accepting his position at SAC, he was a teacher in the school of economics and management at South China Normal University, and he also spent time as an administrator in the production department at the Chochuen Garment Co. Ltd., Shenzen, China.

SEEP is a component of ASTM’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) program, which promotes communication between ASTM International and national standards bodies worldwide, fostering awareness of the standardization systems of all parties involved. The program facilitates the development of national standards that will aid each country's health, safety and environmental and economic conditions. SAC and ASTM International signed a memorandum of understanding in 2004, and ASTM maintains an office in Beijing.

As part of SEEP, standards experts from MOU countries participate in an intensive one-month training program at ASTM headquarters in West Conshohocken, Pa. During this time, they learn about ASTM International and its standards development process, observe the process in action by attending technical committee meetings, visit both federal government agencies and U.S.-based standards development organizations in Washington, D.C., and share information about their work and their home organization.