讲好“重庆故事”和“中国故事”重庆：将友城工作提升到新的高度

2016-11-24重庆市人民对外友好协会

重庆与世界 2016年11期

友城交流提高了重庆市对外开放程度，推动了重庆市与各国在经济、科技、文化、教育、卫生、体育等领域的合作，在服务国家总体外交、服务全市经济社会发展等方面发挥了重要作用，取得了积极成果。

友城数量是直辖时的5倍

重庆市国际友好城市（以下简称“友城”）工作始于1982年，到直辖时共发展友城7对，直辖以后快速发展，截至目前，我市已与美国西雅图、日本广岛等31个国家省州市建立了37对友好城市，总体数量大致是直辖时的5倍，尤其是近5年新增友城16对，大致占增加总量的一半。

在所有友好城市中，市级友城24对，区县级友城13对。从地区分布看，亚洲地区9对，欧洲14对，北美洲6对，南美洲5对，大洋洲1对，非洲2对。同时，通过加强与国外地方政府合作交流，签署友好合作关系协议，建立了友好交流城市65对。为有效利用我市友城资源，拓展与友城实质性交流与合作，我市于2006年成立“重庆市友好城市工作委员会”，连续10年拟订了市级友城交流合作推进事项计划，10年共执行计划748项。

讲好“故事”，推动合作

友城交流提高了重庆市对外开放程度，推动了重庆市与各国在经济、科技、文化、教育、卫生、体育等领域的合作，在服务国家总体外交、服务全市经济社会发展等方面发挥了重要作用，取得了积极成果。自2010年以来，重庆市在全国友城工作评选活动中，连续3次荣获“国际友好城市交流合作奖”。

服务总体外交，提升工作层面。友城工作是国家总体外交的重要组成部分，必须服务于国家的总体外交。根据中共中央政治局委员、重庆市委书记孙政才“按照中央外交外事大政方针和要求，切实增强政治观念和大局观念”的指示，准确把握国家的外交政策动向，积极作为，主动服务，既有力地配合了国家总体外交，又巧借国家资源提升重庆市友城工作层面。一是配合国家总体外交积极发展友城。如按照中央领导指示，重庆市开展与英国威尔士“友城”交往；抓住我国与印度发展友好关系时机，促成与印度金奈市“结好”。二是根据国家要求，配合做好其他领域工作。如加强对华友好政要、人士往来和联系，出席国际会议和活动，增强我国在国际组织中的话语权等。三是积极融入国家层面交流合作机制，为地方政府合作搭建平台。积极参与中美、中俄、中澳、中日、中法、中非、中印省州长、中国—东盟国家省市长对话会以及金砖国家地方政府合作论坛、对话会等机制建设。重庆市市长黄奇帆带团出席了中美、首届中澳省州长论坛、中国—东盟国家省市长对话会、首届中印地方合作论坛等重要活动，使重庆市友城工作进一步融入国家双边、多边合作机制，在中外合作交流高端平台上有效开展。

2016年5月，重庆市市长黄奇帆（后排右二）与到访的韩国仁川广域市市长刘正福（后排左二），签署了进一步加强友好合作备忘录，共同见证了双方多项经贸协议签订。摄影：Noh,si-hoon

服务地方发展，突出务实成效。一是以友城为平台加强高层互访。助推渝新欧国际铁路联运大通道建设，加快融入国家“一带一路”战略。2014年3月，在外交部大力支持下，习近平主席访欧期间专程访问了重庆市友好交流城市德国北威州，出席“渝新欧”班列抵达杜伊斯堡仪式，扩大了“渝新欧”的国际影响力。2014年、2015年，孙政才书记连续两年率团出访中东欧地区，为扩大重庆市向西开放，深化对欧合作，加快重庆市融入国家“一带一路”战略实施发挥了巨大推动作用。二是加快内陆开放高地建设，助推“五大功能区域”发展。推动了两江新区皮拉图斯项目、奥特斯项目、瑞士产业园等项目实施；帮助重庆粮食集团在友城巴西巴伊亚州注册成立格林天地农业有限公司，启动了总投资4.6亿美元的优质大豆基地建设项目；协力推动重庆化医集团、对外经贸集团、重庆力帆集团等重庆企业走出去，实现对外投资3亿多美元。三是突出经贸项目，推动友城合作。先后成功举办了重庆威尔士周、重庆—苏黎世智慧城市论坛、重庆瑞士产业园招商推介洽谈会等活动；加强对重点企业、重点组织的跟踪服务力度，促进项目落户，先后引进美国西雅图市罗宾斯文公司、美国微软公司项目落户重庆。2012年，促成墨西哥尼玛克公司总投资9.49亿元人民币的汽车零部件生产基地项目正式入驻两江新区。2014年，美国安博集团全球董事长何慕德先生来华出席第二届全球CEO委员会圆桌峰会，邀其顺访重庆，促成该集团总投资1.1亿美元的综合性物流园区项目落户鱼复工业园区。

增进民间友谊，筑牢友城基础。以友城为载体，全方位、多层次、宽领域地开展民间友好工作。一是贯彻周边外交的基本方针，做好亚洲邻国友城交流。稳妥开展对日交流，连续举办了6届中外棒球友谊赛，推动对日青少年交流。积极扩大与韩国友城交流，促成重庆南开中学与韩国釜山洛东高中结成了友好学校，推动重庆暨华中学与韩国釜山开展青少年交流，承办了“中国大学生韩国语演讲大赛”总决赛。与印度、斯里兰卡、尼泊尔等周边国家友好组织签订合作交流协议，通过民间友好组织推动友城工作。二是配合大国外交，加强与美欧俄等重点国家和地区友城交流。巩固与欧洲地区友好交往关系，与英国威尔士地区连续举办了9届“威尔士周”，促成双方18对院校建立合作关系，人才交流达80人次。开拓建立与俄罗斯莫斯科州，英国谢菲尔德市、牛津市等近20个州、市、自治共和国的友好交流关系。继续保持与美大地区友城的交流与合作。与美国西雅图市探讨开展老年医疗、养老方面的合作，与澳大利亚布里斯班市共同开展2015年两市结好10周年系列庆祝活动，积极拓展重庆与南美洲的交流，与阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯省、圣达菲省、乌拉圭圣何塞省签署一批友好交流城市备忘录。

2015年1月，重庆友好城市德国杜塞尔多夫市的“杜塞尔多夫交响乐团木管五重奏”乐队为重庆市民带来了德国古典管乐室内音乐会。

举办重要活动，增强对外影响。2002年、2005年重庆市分别举办了AAPP会议、亚太城市市长峰会等重要国际会议，与会外国省市长、议员、政要对重庆印象耳目一新。2011年11月至2012年4月，重庆市与国家住建部共同主办了“第八届中国（重庆）国际园林博览会”，境外30个城市来渝参展，156名参展城市市长代表团来渝出席会议。2013年7月，重庆市与外交部联合举办了中国—中东欧国家地方领导人会议，罗马尼亚总理蓬塔、马其顿总理格鲁埃夫斯基及中东欧地区16国政府机构和56个州（省）市代表等1000余人与会，促成签署双边合作协议25个，通过了《重庆倡议》，为中国—中东欧国家地方合作机制化建设奠定了坚实基础。2014年2月，重庆市召开了“中俄两河流域合作工作组第一次会议”，中国外交部、中国人民对外友好协会、俄罗斯外交部、俄罗斯总统驻伏尔加河沿岸联邦区全权代表处、俄罗斯驻华使馆、伏尔加河沿岸联邦区14个联邦主体等负责人200多人与会，为加快中俄非毗邻地区合作、提升重庆市在中俄两河流域合作机制建设中的地位和影响力发挥了重要作用。2015年5月，重庆市承办亚欧互联互通产业对话会，中共中央政治局常委、国务院副总理张高丽亲临会议开幕式并作主旨演讲，我国7个国家部委，24个省区市政府及柬埔寨副首相尹财利、斯洛伐克副总理卡日米尔和亚欧国家10位副部级官员等800余人齐聚一堂，共商合作、共谋发展，成果丰硕。

加强友城宣传，促进交流成效。一是编印宣传资料，开展友城合作宣传。编印《重庆经济社会发展简况及重点发展领域和产业》等系列宣传册，向重庆市近100个友城、“准友城”进行宣传推荐。二是加强媒体报道，形成公共舆论导向。编写友城宣传新闻稿，人民网、中国商务部官网、香港凤凰资讯等媒体纷纷报道，收到了良好的效果。三是通过中央电视台大型纪录片《新中国民间外交实录》，对重庆市友城合作典型项目“比利时—巫溪马铃薯合作项目”进行宣传。四是通过市领导会见重要外宾等，提升友城宣传效果。2014年12月，美国州政府理事会代表团访渝，重庆市人大常委会主任张轩向客人介绍了重庆市经济社会、法制建设等方面成就，展示了重庆在产业发展和国家战略中的实力，同时，在回应客人感兴趣的交通、经贸、文化等话题时，巧妙提出“中美之间，相互学习、相互合作，对双方都有益”的观点，客人非常赞同，表示回去要宣传重庆，与重庆展开经贸、科技等多领域合作。这些都在看似礼节性会见中很好地宣传了重庆，讲好了“重庆故事”，由点及面地讲好了“西部故事”和“中国故事”，体现出了理论自信、道路自信和制度自信，又将友城宣传提升到了新的高度。

2015年10月，在重庆举办的友好城市英国威尔士当代艺术展。

（重庆市人民对外友好协会供稿）

General situation of Chongqing’ s sister cities: Quintupling the number when it became the municipality

Chongqing’ s working to establish ties with its International Sister Cities (referred hereafter as“ISC”) began at 1982, and had built 7 pairs of sister cities when it became a municipality. After becoming the municipality, Chongqing developed fast, and had so far established 37 “ISC” ties with cities in 31 countries, provinces, states and cities including Seattle and Hiroshima, which quintuples the number when it became the municipality. Notably, over the past 5 years, Chongqing had newly established “ISC”ties with 16 cities , accounting for around half of the increased number.

Of all these “ISC”, Chongqing has 24 “ISC”members at municipal level, and 13 “ISC” members at district or county level. In terms of regional distribution, Chongqing has 9 “ISC” members in Asia, 14 “ISC” members in Europe, 6 “ISC”members in North America, 5 “ISC” members in South America, 1 “ISC” member in Oceania, and 2 “ISC” members in Africa. At the same time, Chongqing has established friendly ties with 65 cities by strengthening cooperation and exchanges and signing friendly cooperation agreement with foreign local governments. Established in 2006, “Chongqing International Sisters Cities Working committee” had drafted a ten-year cooperation and exchanges promotion project with its municipal “ISC”, aiming to effectively use its “ISC” resources, and to expand substantive cooperation and exchanges. In this project, 748 items have been implemented over the past 10 years.

Chongqing’ s works with its International Sisters cities:

To tell “A story” well, and to promote cooperation.

The exchanges with its “ISC” members elevated Chongqing’ s opening up to the outside world to a new level,which boosted Chongqing’ s cooperation with other countries in economy, education, health care, sports and other fields. The cooperation had played a significant role in achieving positive outcomes when serving state's overall diplomacy and Chongqing’ s economic and social development. Chongqing had been consecutively awarded for three times the “International Sister Cities Exchanges and Cooperation Award” in the National Sister Cities Works Competition Since 2010.

On 29th April. 2016, China-France Cultural Spring at Chongqing’s opening ceremony on Nanbin Road. Photograph by Luo Jie.

Serving overall diplomacy, and improving working level. International Sister Cities works belong to and should be subject to state’s overall diplomacy. According serve to the instruction of Sun Zhengcai, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee -“To effectively enhance the political and overall concept in accordance with the foreign affairs guidelines and requirements of the central government”, Chongqing had, one the one hand, accurately grasped the state's foreign policy trend, made active efforts and provided services to have adhered to state’s overall policy; and,on the other hand, had make full use of national resources to have improved working level with its “ISC” members. First is to develop its “ISC” members in accordance with state’s overall policy. According to the instruction of the central government, Chongqing had built a sister city tie with Welsh; As China is developing a rapport with India, Chongqing is making efforts to build friendly tie with Chennai. Second is to coordinate a works in other fi elds in accordance with the requirements of the central government. Works such as strengthening contacts with those politicians and government officials who are friendly to China, attending international conferences and activities and enhancing China’s voice in international organization are included. Third is to make efforts to adapt to the exchanges and cooperation mechanisms at national level and to establish a platform for cooperating with foreign local governments by actively participating in China’s mechanisms construction of cooperation forum and dialogue with provincial or state governors from America, Russia, Australia, Japan, France, Africa, India, ASEAN countries and local governments of BRICS members. Huang Qifan, mayor of Chongqing, and his group had attended the China-US Provincial Governors Dialogue, the first China-Australia Provincial Governors Forum, China- ASEAN Countries Provincial Dialogue, the fi rst China-India Local Cooperation Forum and other events, making Chongqing’ s efforts to adapt its “ISC”works to national bilateral or multilateral cooperation mechanisms based on the high-end China-foreign exchanges and cooperation platform become effective.

Serving local economic and social development, highlighting real effect.First, Chongqing had enhanced high-level visits with its “ISC” members. Chongqing has been seeking to boost the construction of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway and accelerating the adaption to “One Belt, One Road” initiative issued by the central government. In March, 2014, with the help of Foreign Ministry, the infl uence of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway was expanded as General Secretary Xi Jinping had a special visit to Chongqing’ s “ISC”member NRW German and attending Train -Arrivingin-Duisburg Ceremony of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway during his trip to Europe. In the years of 2014 and 2015, Sun Zhengcai, and his group had consecutively visited Central and Eastern Europe, which had played a signifi cant role in further opening-up and cooperation to Eastern-European countries as well as in Chongqing’ s adaption to“One Belt, One Road” initiative issued by the central government. Second, Chongqing had accelerated inland opening-up construction to promoted the development of “Chongqing Five Functional Areas”. Hence, Chongqing had promoted the implementation of Pilatus Project, AT&S Project, Swiss Industrial Park Project and other project in LiangJiang NewArea; Chongqing had helped Chongqing Grain Group launch a $460 million invested High-Quality Soybean Base Construction Project after its incorporation as“Green Universe Agribusiness Co., Ltd.” in one of Chongqing’ s “ISC” members Bahia State. At the same time, Chongqing Chemical&Pharmaceutical Holding(group) Company, Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (Group) Co.,Ltd., Chongqing Lifan Holdings Co., Ltd. and other companies had been helped to achieve over $300 million of overseas investments. Third, Chongqing had highlighted Trade and economic cooperation projects to boost cooperation with its “ISC” members. Events such as Chongqing Welsh Week, Chongqing-Zurich Smart City Forum and Chongqing Swiss Industrial Park Investment Trade Fair were successively held in Chongqing; To strengthen the quality of follow-up services for key enterprises and organizations, and to promote settlement of projects, projects from Seattle Robins company and Microsoft had been introduced to Chongqing by the local government. LiangJiang New Area formally introduced a ￥949 million total investment project called Auto Parts Production Base Project from Nemak Company, Mexico in 2012. In 2014, America AMB Prologis Group’ s worldwide chairman Hamid Moghadam was invited to Chongqing during his trip to attend the 2nd Round Table of Global CEO Council, which had resulted in a ＄110 million invested generalized logistics parks project settled in Yu Fu Industrial Park.

In May 2016, Liu Zhengfu (the 3rd on the right), Mayor of Inchon city, Seoul Korea, was attending Chongqing-Inchon tourism introduction meeting. Photograph by Luo Jie.

Enhancing people-to-people friendship, building a firm foundation with “ISC” members.Based on its “ISC” resources, Chongqing had worked to improve relations with its “ISC” members in an omnidirectional , multilevel and wide range. First, to uphold the basic policy of China's peripheral diplomacy, Chongqing had worked to communicate with its “ISC”members in Asia. To keep a steady communication with Japan, 6 baseball friendship matches had been consecutively held to promote youth exchanges with its “ISC” members in Japan. To expand exchange works with its Korean “ISC” members, Chongqing had helped build a sister school tie between Chongqing NanKai Middle School and Busan Nakdong Senior High School. At the same time, the finals of “Korean Speech Contest for Chinese College Students” was held and youth exchanges works were promoted between Chongqing JiHua Middle School and its Busan counterparts. A series of cooperation agreements had been signed with nongovernmental friendship organizations from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other neighboring countries to promote Chongqing’ s “ISC” works. Second, to follow the great power diplomatic strategy of central government, Chongqing had enhanced exchanges with its “ISC” members in America, Europe,Russia and other priority countries. To sustain friendly contacts with its European “ISC” member, Chongqing had consecutively held 9 Welsh Weeks with its Welsh counterparts, built partnership with 18 colleges or universities and held 80 meetings for talent exchanges. Friendly exchange relationship was established by Chongqing and its 20 counterparts from Moscow Oblast, Sheffi eld, Oxford city and other states, cities and autonomous republics. We had continued to maintain cooperation with American large districts. We had discussed the cooperation in gerontology and pension system, and had jointly celebrated the 10th anniversary of building sisterties with Australia Brisbane. A series of memorandums were signed to boost exchanges by Chongqing and its South American counterparts Buenos Aires Province, Santa Fe Province in Argentina and San Jose Province in Uruguay.

Organizing important events to strengthen infl uence abroad.2002 AAPP conference, 2005 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and other important meetingswere held respectively in Chongqing making Chongqing more refreshing to those foreign local governors and politicians. From November 2011 to April 2012, Chongqing had jointly held “The 8th China(Chongqing)International Garden EXPO”with Housing Construction Department, which had attracted 156 mayor delegate groups from 30 overseas cities to participate in. The Meeting of China-CEEC Leaders was jointly held in July 2013 by Chongqing and Foreign Ministry. Over 1000 delegates including Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevskiand and 16 government institutes from 56 states (provinces) and 16 Eastern-European countries respectively attended this meeting, which had resulted in the accomplishment of 25 bilateral cooperation agreements and passed “Chongqing Initiative”, laying a solid foundation for the mechanism construction of China-CEEC’ s cooperation. In February 2014, China-Russia Cooperation Working Group Meeting was held in Chongqing, and over 200 heads from 14 federation subjects including Chinese Foreign Ministry, CPAFFC, Russian Foreign Ministry, Full Representative offi ce of Russia President along Volga River Federal District, Russia Embassy and Volga River Federal District attended this meeting, which played a signifi cant role in accelerating cooperation in China-Russia nonadjacent areas as well as in enhancing Chongqing’s status and infl uence in mechanism construction of cooperation between regions on the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River and their counterparts along Russia's Volga River. Zhang Gaoli, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council delivered a keynote speech at the ASEM Industrial Dialogue on Connectivity Ceremony undertook by Chongqing in May 2015. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly, Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Cage Mir and 10 deputy ministerial officials from Asian and European countries along with offi cials from 7 Chinese national ministries, 24 provincial governments totaled over 800 people attended this meeting to seek cooperation and development, and had achieved fruitful results.

Enhancing the propaganda of Sister cities and promoting the effects of practical exchanges. The first is to conduct cooperation propagation with sister cities through the compilation and printing of publicity materials. A series of brochures, for example,“Economic and Social Development of Chongqing as well as the Key Development Areas and Industries”are issued to promote and recommend Chongqing to nearly 100 friendship cities and potential friendship cities. The second is to form a guidance of public opinion through the enhancement of media reports. Press releases about the propaganda for Chongqing are compiled and have received good results through the reports of media such as “People.cn”, “Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China”,“News.ifeng.com” in Hong Kong, etc. The third is to propagate Chongqing’s typical cooperation project with its sister cities, namely, “Belgium - WuXi potato cooperation project”, through the full-length CCTV documentary “Veritable Records of Folks Diplomacy in New China ”. The fourth is to improve the publicity effect of sister cities through municipal leaders’meeting with foreign guests, etc. December 2014, the delegation of Counsel of State Government visited Chongqing. Zhang Xuan, director of Chongqing People’s Congress Standing Committee, introduced Chongqing’s achievements in economic and social development, the legal system construction, etc. to the guest, which demonstrated Chongqing’s power in industrial development and national strategy. Besides, in response to the topics that the guests were interested in such as traffi c, trade, culture, etc. he put forward tactfully the idea of “ It is benefi cial to both sides for China and the United States to learn from each other and cooperate with each other .”The guests strongly agreed to this idea and they said that they would publicize Chongqing after going back to their country. Moreover, they unveiled the vision of cooperating with Chongqing in such fields as economy, trade, science and technology. All these aspects made Chongqing widely publicized, the stories of Chongqing well told, and the stories of the western region and China presented from a point to a surface, which refl ected the very confi dence in our path, in our theories and in our system. Meanwhile, the propaganda of sister cities was promoted to a new height.

(Provided by Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’ s Government)

To tell the “Chongqing story” and the “China story” well Chongqing:Promoting its works with sister cities to a new level