SEWC '98 is the first international congress to cover all aspects of structural engineering from technical to professional practice issues. The world is fast becoming one large community in engineering as well as in all other professions and structural engineers are involved in the design of all types of facilities in most countries around the world. Therefore, there is a vital need for engineers to understand the various cultures and governmental/environmental requirements in other countries so that safe, economical structures can be designed and built. This congress presented an excellent opportunity to learn more about what is happening now and what will happen in structural engineering throughout the world in the 21st century.