美國西部市長代表團訪渝建言重慶城市發展

□ 文/本刊記者 李靜

應美華友好協會邀請，5月29日至30日，美國西部城市市長代表團一行22人來渝進行友好訪問。其中，加利福利亞州的圣莫妮卡市、內華達州的北拉斯維加斯市分別與重慶市合川區、江北區簽署了建立友好城市關系意向合作書，期望未來雙方在經濟、文化等領域有更進一步的合作。

此次美國西部城市市長代表團成員來自加利福利亞州和內達華州等知名度較高的城市，包括拉斯維加斯、比弗利山、馬里布、塔斯廷市等市長。短短兩天時間，代表團一行參觀了重慶史迪威博物館、三峽博物館，考察了江北區觀音橋商圈及南濱路。第二天還乘坐了獨具重慶特色的長江索道渡江，之后前往合川區進行參觀訪問。重慶市人大副主任張定宇會見了代表團一行，并見證了簽約儀式，市政府外僑辦主任助理王廣成陪同并參加上述活動。

驚嘆活力重慶 期待友城交流

緊湊而充實的重慶之行令市長們不得不驚嘆這座城市的活力與生機，訪渝期間，來自加利福利亞州的圣莫妮卡市市議員帕姆·奧康納和來自內華達州的北拉斯維加斯市長約翰·李接受了本刊記者專訪，暢談他們的重慶之行。

作為美國加利福尼亞州洛杉磯縣的海濱城市，圣莫妮卡市是眾多世界知名企業所在地，還集中了像著名的暴雪工作室等大量游戲開發商，以及數百家高新技術新興企業，享有“硅灘”美譽。議員帕姆·奧康納告訴記者，近幾年圣莫妮卡市著眼于與更多國家的城市結為友好城市，而現在剛好有了這樣的新機遇。“重慶是一座充滿活力的城市，而合川又擁有厚重的歷史，這與我所在的城市十分相似，我們都非常尊重傳統歷史文化，兩地對未來也有著長遠規劃和期待，我們希望此行能為兩地的進一步合作，尤其是兩地的年輕人之間搭建一個溝通交流的平臺。”奧康納說到。

第一次來到重慶，北拉斯維加斯市長約翰·李表現出了極大的熱情，他表示：“重慶是一個充滿詩意的存在。雖是一座3000多年的歷史名城，卻像剛破土而出的新筍一樣充滿活力！這里的交通體系系統地發展，還有在建的金融中心蓄勢待發，是一座活力與能量具備的城市。”

因為交通便利，毗鄰交通干線、鐵路和兩個機場，北拉斯維加斯為當地企業提供了通往加州、內華達州、猶他州等市場的便捷通道。北拉斯維加斯正迎來良好的發展時期，旅游、休閑正與歷史、文化緊密結合，吸引越來越多的人來此居住、工作和旅游。作為市長，約翰·李認為，自己有責任領導這座城市與世界上其他在經濟發展上有經驗的城市展開技術合作。北拉斯維加斯市在旅游業方面發展已經非常成熟，他希望雙方能在制造業領域展開合作，比如重慶企業可到北拉斯維加斯市投資建廠 ，使其成為重慶企業打開美國市場的窗口，同時也為北拉斯維加斯城市在制造業領域注入新的活力。

兩個城市的代表們都表示，加強年輕一代的溝通交流非常有必要。在簽署了建立友好城市關系意向合作書后，雙方將在經濟、文化等領域有更進一步的合作，尤其與重慶在高校教育間展開合作，如學術和人員間的交往，以及兩地學生之間的交流互訪。

建言城市建設

在談到對重慶的城市建議時，兩位代表都提出了自己獨到的建議。奧康納議員表示，重慶是一個多山的城市，因為地理位置特殊，在建設上會受到一些局限，政府在建設城市道路的同時，希望能為市民提供更多步行的空間。”帕姆·奧康納稱，她發現重慶的道路建設已非常成熟，但這只針對車行道路，相反，為行人提供的步行道路建設還有待提升。

她表示，這樣的挑戰對于任何一個國家都會存在，美國也同樣面臨這樣的問題。在車行道和步行道的建設中還沒有達到一個平衡點，能為不同的出行方式提供充足的空間。“我們也在不斷改善，通過建立單獨的自行車道和嬰兒車道，或標記特殊用途車道與汽車道隔離，同時預留行人道，讓其互不干擾。我很期待能與重慶市相關部門共同努力，尋找城市道路建設規劃的最佳模式。”帕姆·奧康納說。

約翰·李則表示，重慶應在提升城市知名度和國際性上更加努力。他認為，舉辦國際性會展來提升知名度是非常重要的。以北拉斯維加斯市為例，他們經常舉辦國際性的會展來吸引更多的人員，因為城市的地理位置，到此的飛行時間較長，參會人員通常都會在此至少待上2天，這對于刺激當地的旅游和提升城市知名度有很大幫助。他認為重慶可以借此經驗，通過舉辦地方性的會展，吸引本國的其他城市來此參會，之后舉辦大型國際盛會來提升城市的國際性。

At the invitation of Sino-American Friendship Association,a 22-member delegation of mayors from western cities of the United States of America took a friendly visit to Chongqing during May 29-30.Among them,mayors from the city of Santa Monica,California and the city of north Las Vegas,Nevada,signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on cooperation and the building of sistercity relationship respectively with Hechuan District and Jiangbei District,for the purpose of further cooperation in the fields such as economy and culture in the coming future.

In this trip,all the members from the delegation are from cities with high popularity like California and Nevada in the west of America,including Las Vegas,Beverly Hills,Malibu,Tustin,etc.During the two-day stay,the delegation visited the Stilwell Museum and the Three Gorges Museum,and made inspection of Guanyinqiao Central Business District and Nanbin Road.The second day saw them cross the Yangtze River by the cableway with unique features of Chongqing and a visit to Hechuan.Zhang Dingyu,deputy director of the National People’s Congress of Chongqing Municipality,met with the delegation and witnessed the signing ceremony accompanied by Wang Guangcheng,deputy director of the Municipal Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office,who also attended the above activities.

Marveling at Chongqing’s Vitality and Expecting Communications between Sister Cities

Council Member of City Santa,Mrs.Monica Pam o' Connor

The mayors cannot but to marvel at the vigor and vitality of the city in this tight but colorful trip to Chongqing.During their visit to Chongqing,the senator Pam O’Connor from Santa Monica,California and John Lee,from North Las Vegas,Nevada,accepted our interview,sharing with us their trip to Chongqing.

Santa Monica,a coastal city of Los Angeles county in California,America,is home to many famous enterprises around the world,and also accumulates a large number of game developers,such as the famous Blizzard Studio as well as hundreds of emerging high-tech enterprises,enjoying a reputation of “silicon beach”.Senator Pam O’Connor told the reporter that,over recent years,the city of Santa Monica had been focusing on establishing friendly relationship with cities of more countries and now it meets with a new opportunity.“Chongqing is a vibrant city and Hechuan District boasts deep historical deposits,which is quite similar to my city.We both cherish traditional history and culture,and are in expectation of a long-term planning for the future.We look forward to further cooperation between the two cities and especially a communication platform being built through this visit for young people from both sides.”O’Connor said.

In his first visit to Chongqing,John Lee,the mayor of North Las Vegas,showed great enthusiasm and excitement.“Chongqing has a kind of poetic beauty and full of vigor like unearthed bamboo shoot yet in spite of its 3000 years’history.It is a city with the integration of vitality and energy as its traffic system develops systematically and financial centers under construction are on a fast track,”he said.

For North Las Vegas,adjacent to the arterial traffic lines,railway and two airports,its convenient transportation provides speedy passages for the markets of California,Nevada and Utah for local enterprises.It is ushering in a favorable period of development as tourism and entertainment industry are being connected closely with local history and culture,which attracts an increasing number of people to live,work and travel there.John Lee thought that,as a mayor,he himself was responsible for leading the city to start technical cooperation with other cities with rich experience of economic development.Since North Las Vegas has matured in terms of tourism development,he hoped that both sides could cooperate in the manufacturing.For example,the enterprises in Chongqing can invest to establish factories in North Las Vegas,which will serve as a window to open American market for them,and in turn,new vitality will be infused in the field of manufacturing for North Las Vegas city as well.

Representatives from the two cities agreed that it is necessary to strengthen communication among the young generation.Followed by signature of MOUs on cooperation the building of sister-city relationship,both sides will further cooperate in some fields such as economy and culture.More importantly,cooperation shall be launched in higher education by exchanges involving academics and personnel and reciprocal visits between students from both sides.

Suggestions for Urban Development

When it comes to urban development in Chongqing,both representatives put forward their own suggestions.The senator O’Connor suggested that walking space be provided sufficiently for citizens along with the expansion of road construction,for Chongqing is a mountainous city and it will confront with some limitations due to its special geographical location.She found that despite its matured road construction,it only serves vehicles;on the contrary,pedestrian walkway construction has yet remained to be promoted.

She added that every country would be confronted with such challenges and America is no exception.We yet failed to achieve a balance between the roadways and walkways construction providing enough space for different traffic ways.“We are unceasingly making improvements by setting up a separate bicycle lane and baby lane,or tagging special-purpose lanes to separate them from motorways,and meanwhile reserve a pedestrian way for noninterference with each other.I’m looking forward to working together with related departments of Chongqing Municipality to seek for the best model of urban road construction planning.”Pam O’Connor said.

John Lee said,Chongqing should make more endeavors in terms of promoting its awareness and internationalization.He further explained that it was of great significance to realize the former by holding international conferences and exhibitions.Taking the city North Las Vegas as an example,there are international conferences and exhibitions often held to attract more people who usually stay there at least for two days on account of the city’s geographic location,all of which gave stimulus to local tourism and helped enhance the city’s popularity.He suggested that Chongqing can draw on their experience,namely,holding local conferences and exhibitions to attract other cities’engagement,and then,holding large international events to expand Chongqing’s international influence.