講好“重慶故事”和“中國故事”重慶：將友城工作提升到新的高度

講好“重慶故事”和“中國故事”重慶：將友城工作提升到新的高度

友城交流提高了重慶市對外開放程度，推動了重慶市與各國在經濟、科技、文化、教育、衛生、體育等領域的合作，在服務國家總體外交、服務全市經濟社會發展等方面發揮了重要作用，取得了積極成果。

友城數量是直轄時的5倍

重慶市國際友好城市（以下簡稱“友城”）工作始于1982年，到直轄時共發展友城7對，直轄以后快速發展，截至目前，我市已與美國西雅圖、日本廣島等31個國家省州市建立了37對友好城市，總體數量大致是直轄時的5倍，尤其是近5年新增友城16對，大致占增加總量的一半。

在所有友好城市中，市級友城24對，區縣級友城13對。從地區分布看，亞洲地區9對，歐洲14對，北美洲6對，南美洲5對，大洋洲1對，非洲2對。同時，通過加強與國外地方政府合作交流，簽署友好合作關系協議，建立了友好交流城市65對。為有效利用我市友城資源，拓展與友城實質性交流與合作，我市于2006年成立“重慶市友好城市工作委員會”，連續10年擬訂了市級友城交流合作推進事項計劃，10年共執行計劃748項。

講好“故事”，推動合作

友城交流提高了重慶市對外開放程度，推動了重慶市與各國在經濟、科技、文化、教育、衛生、體育等領域的合作，在服務國家總體外交、服務全市經濟社會發展等方面發揮了重要作用，取得了積極成果。自2010年以來，重慶市在全國友城工作評選活動中，連續3次榮獲“國際友好城市交流合作獎”。

服務總體外交，提升工作層面。友城工作是國家總體外交的重要組成部分，必須服務于國家的總體外交。根據中共中央政治局委員、重慶市委書記孫政才“按照中央外交外事大政方針和要求，切實增強政治觀念和大局觀念”的指示，準確把握國家的外交政策動向，積極作為，主動服務，既有力地配合了國家總體外交，又巧借國家資源提升重慶市友城工作層面。一是配合國家總體外交積極發展友城。如按照中央領導指示，重慶市開展與英國威爾士“友城”交往；抓住我國與印度發展友好關系時機，促成與印度金奈市“結好”。二是根據國家要求，配合做好其他領域工作。如加強對華友好政要、人士往來和聯系，出席國際會議和活動，增強我國在國際組織中的話語權等。三是積極融入國家層面交流合作機制，為地方政府合作搭建平臺。積極參與中美、中俄、中澳、中日、中法、中非、中印省州長、中國—東盟國家省市長對話會以及金磚國家地方政府合作論壇、對話會等機制建設。重慶市市長黃奇帆帶團出席了中美、首屆中澳省州長論壇、中國—東盟國家省市長對話會、首屆中印地方合作論壇等重要活動，使重慶市友城工作進一步融入國家雙邊、多邊合作機制，在中外合作交流高端平臺上有效開展。

2016年5月，重慶市市長黃奇帆（后排右二）與到訪的韓國仁川廣域市市長劉正福（后排左二），簽署了進一步加強友好合作備忘錄，共同見證了雙方多項經貿協議簽訂。攝影：Noh,si-hoon

服務地方發展，突出務實成效。一是以友城為平臺加強高層互訪。助推渝新歐國際鐵路聯運大通道建設，加快融入國家“一帶一路”戰略。2014年3月，在外交部大力支持下，習近平主席訪歐期間專程訪問了重慶市友好交流城市德國北威州，出席“渝新歐”班列抵達杜伊斯堡儀式，擴大了“渝新歐”的國際影響力。2014年、2015年，孫政才書記連續兩年率團出訪中東歐地區，為擴大重慶市向西開放，深化對歐合作，加快重慶市融入國家“一帶一路”戰略實施發揮了巨大推動作用。二是加快內陸開放高地建設，助推“五大功能區域”發展。推動了兩江新區皮拉圖斯項目、奧特斯項目、瑞士產業園等項目實施；幫助重慶糧食集團在友城巴西巴伊亞州注冊成立格林天地農業有限公司，啟動了總投資4.6億美元的優質大豆基地建設項目；協力推動重慶化醫集團、對外經貿集團、重慶力帆集團等重慶企業走出去，實現對外投資3億多美元。三是突出經貿項目，推動友城合作。先后成功舉辦了重慶威爾士周、重慶—蘇黎世智慧城市論壇、重慶瑞士產業園招商推介洽談會等活動；加強對重點企業、重點組織的跟蹤服務力度，促進項目落戶，先后引進美國西雅圖市羅賓斯文公司、美國微軟公司項目落戶重慶。2012年，促成墨西哥尼瑪克公司總投資9.49億元人民幣的汽車零部件生產基地項目正式入駐兩江新區。2014年，美國安博集團全球董事長何慕德先生來華出席第二屆全球CEO委員會圓桌峰會，邀其順訪重慶，促成該集團總投資1.1億美元的綜合性物流園區項目落戶魚復工業園區。

增進民間友誼，筑牢友城基礎。以友城為載體，全方位、多層次、寬領域地開展民間友好工作。一是貫徹周邊外交的基本方針，做好亞洲鄰國友城交流。穩妥開展對日交流，連續舉辦了6屆中外棒球友誼賽，推動對日青少年交流。積極擴大與韓國友城交流，促成重慶南開中學與韓國釜山洛東高中結成了友好學校，推動重慶暨華中學與韓國釜山開展青少年交流，承辦了“中國大學生韓國語演講大賽”總決賽。與印度、斯里蘭卡、尼泊爾等周邊國家友好組織簽訂合作交流協議，通過民間友好組織推動友城工作。二是配合大國外交，加強與美歐俄等重點國家和地區友城交流。鞏固與歐洲地區友好交往關系，與英國威爾士地區連續舉辦了9屆“威爾士周”，促成雙方18對院校建立合作關系，人才交流達80人次。開拓建立與俄羅斯莫斯科州，英國謝菲爾德市、牛津市等近20個州、市、自治共和國的友好交流關系。繼續保持與美大地區友城的交流與合作。與美國西雅圖市探討開展老年醫療、養老方面的合作，與澳大利亞布里斯班市共同開展2015年兩市結好10周年系列慶祝活動，積極拓展重慶與南美洲的交流，與阿根廷布宜諾斯艾利斯省、圣達菲省、烏拉圭圣何塞省簽署一批友好交流城市備忘錄。

2015年1月，重慶友好城市德國杜塞爾多夫市的“杜塞爾多夫交響樂團木管五重奏”樂隊為重慶市民帶來了德國古典管樂室內音樂會。

舉辦重要活動，增強對外影響。2002年、2005年重慶市分別舉辦了AAPP會議、亞太城市市長峰會等重要國際會議，與會外國省市長、議員、政要對重慶印象耳目一新。2011年11月至2012年4月，重慶市與國家住建部共同主辦了“第八屆中國（重慶）國際園林博覽會”，境外30個城市來渝參展，156名參展城市市長代表團來渝出席會議。2013年7月，重慶市與外交部聯合舉辦了中國—中東歐國家地方領導人會議，羅馬尼亞總理蓬塔、馬其頓總理格魯埃夫斯基及中東歐地區16國政府機構和56個州（省）市代表等1000余人與會，促成簽署雙邊合作協議25個，通過了《重慶倡議》，為中國—中東歐國家地方合作機制化建設奠定了堅實基礎。2014年2月，重慶市召開了“中俄兩河流域合作工作組第一次會議”，中國外交部、中國人民對外友好協會、俄羅斯外交部、俄羅斯總統駐伏爾加河沿岸聯邦區全權代表處、俄羅斯駐華使館、伏爾加河沿岸聯邦區14個聯邦主體等負責人200多人與會，為加快中俄非毗鄰地區合作、提升重慶市在中俄兩河流域合作機制建設中的地位和影響力發揮了重要作用。2015年5月，重慶市承辦亞歐互聯互通產業對話會，中共中央政治局常委、國務院副總理張高麗親臨會議開幕式并作主旨演講，我國7個國家部委，24個省區市政府及柬埔寨副首相尹財利、斯洛伐克副總理卡日米爾和亞歐國家10位副部級官員等800余人齊聚一堂，共商合作、共謀發展，成果豐碩。

加強友城宣傳，促進交流成效。一是編印宣傳資料，開展友城合作宣傳。編印《重慶經濟社會發展簡況及重點發展領域和產業》等系列宣傳冊，向重慶市近100個友城、“準友城”進行宣傳推薦。二是加強媒體報道，形成公共輿論導向。編寫友城宣傳新聞稿，人民網、中國商務部官網、香港鳳凰資訊等媒體紛紛報道，收到了良好的效果。三是通過中央電視臺大型紀錄片《新中國民間外交實錄》，對重慶市友城合作典型項目“比利時—巫溪馬鈴薯合作項目”進行宣傳。四是通過市領導會見重要外賓等，提升友城宣傳效果。2014年12月，美國州政府理事會代表團訪渝，重慶市人大常委會主任張軒向客人介紹了重慶市經濟社會、法制建設等方面成就，展示了重慶在產業發展和國家戰略中的實力，同時，在回應客人感興趣的交通、經貿、文化等話題時，巧妙提出“中美之間，相互學習、相互合作，對雙方都有益”的觀點，客人非常贊同，表示回去要宣傳重慶，與重慶展開經貿、科技等多領域合作。這些都在看似禮節性會見中很好地宣傳了重慶，講好了“重慶故事”，由點及面地講好了“西部故事”和“中國故事”，體現出了理論自信、道路自信和制度自信，又將友城宣傳提升到了新的高度。

2015年10月，在重慶舉辦的友好城市英國威爾士當代藝術展。

（重慶市人民對外友好協會供稿）

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 fi elds. The cooperation had played a signifi cant role in achieving positive outcomes when serving state's overall diplomacy and Chongqing’ s economic and social development.

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