跨洋結友誼 互利促共贏

跨洋結友誼 互利促共贏

涵蓋了包括北美洲、南美洲在內的整個西半球和整個南太平洋地區，共有51個國家，其中有世界上唯一的超級大國美國，也有世界上最不發達國家海地、瓦努阿圖、圖瓦盧，這就是美洲大洋洲地區（以下簡稱“美大地區”）。遠隔重洋，與其國別特點和地理因素呈現出的巨大差異相類似，美大地區的友城工作既有蓬勃發展的光鮮一面，也有挑戰與機遇相互依存的困難一面。

2011 年7 月，首屆中美省州長論壇在美國鹽湖城召開。

“對我來說，你們就是美國”

時任國家副主席習近平于2012年初訪問了美國艾奧瓦州馬斯卡廷市，習主席在與27年前他訪美時接待過他的美國老朋友們一起團聚交談時，不無感慨地說：“闊別27年，這次再回到馬斯卡廷，當年的印象又再度浮現，見到你們我感到非常親切。這里給我留下如此深刻的印象，你們都難以體會，因為你們是我見到的第一批美國人，我對美國的第一印象來自你們，對我來說，你們就是美國?！?/p>

1985年當時在河北省正定縣工作的習近平，率考察團來到艾奧瓦州訪問，1992年艾奧瓦州的老朋友應習主席的邀請訪華，到后來艾奧瓦州州長布蘭斯塔德，這位美國有史以來做州長時間最長的州長發誓，一定要把艾奧瓦州變成對中國最友好的州，所有這些佳話和故事都起源于1983年河北省與艾奧瓦州結為友好省州。

包括友城交往在內的中美地方交往始終是中美關系穩步推進的重要動力之一。1979年中美兩國建交以來，自湖北省與俄亥俄州、江蘇省南京市與密蘇里州圣路易斯市結為第一對友好省州和友好城市，中美兩國目前已締結46對友好省州和212對友好城市。37年來，伴隨著我國進一步改革開放和中美關系的不斷向前發展，雙方在經貿合作、文化教育、技術交流和人員培訓等各領域取長補短、相互學習，給兩國人民帶來了實實在在的利益。

近年來，中美共同實施了多項重要地方交流機制，兩國友城交往逐漸呈現制度化與規范化趨勢。例如，由中國人民對外友好協會（以下簡稱“全國友協”）負責舉辦的中美省州長論壇自2011年啟動以來，已成功組織三屆論壇和兩次對話活動，習近平主席2015年訪美時親自出席第三屆論壇并發表重要講話。據不完全統計，共有美方33位州長或總督、中方26位省（自治區、直轄市）主要領導出席，就經濟發展、環境保護等議題展開交流，取得了一系列合作成果，有力推動了兩國地方務實合作；中美友城大會已于2014年和2015年連續在美舉辦，第三屆中美友城大會將于今年11月18—19日在江西南昌舉行，該機制已成為兩國地方分享友城交流經驗、探討合作機遇的重要平臺。

此外，全國友協每年還通過接待大量美國州長、副州長、市長、州議會領袖、州議員等重要地方政府官員訪華，助力中美友城交往，推動雙方友好省州和城市在經貿、科技、教育等各領域加強務實合作。

兩個地方政府交流機制3天內建成

2014年11月19日和21日，習近平主席在對澳大利亞和新西蘭進行國事訪問期間，分別在悉尼和奧克蘭出席了首屆“中澳省州負責人論壇”和“中新市長論壇啟動儀式”，并就中澳、中新地方政府交流發表重要講話。3天內建立了兩個地方政府交流機制、舉辦了兩場習主席出席的活動，這樣創紀錄的工作成績至今回想起來，仍讓全國友協美大地區工作部的同志們興奮不已。

加拿大與美國在面積、經濟、資源稟賦方面都有一定的相似之處，但是自1980年加拿大與我國建立第一對友好城市以來，每10年的結好數量都在13對左右，數量增長緩慢，中加友城仍有很大潛力。近年來，加拿大各省省長訪華熱情高漲，加現政府對發展對華關系態度也更為積極，我們將抓住機遇，多做工作，促進更多中加城市結好。

澳大利亞與我國的結好數量一直處于快速增長通道。20世紀70年代僅結好兩對，自2010年至今，結好數量達到24對。如保持這個勢頭，到2020年有望達到40對。該數據恰當地反映了改革開放以來中澳關系取得了長足發展。今后，我們應以良好的中澳關系為依托，在追求友城數量的同時，注重交往質量。

新西蘭情況有所不同。在經歷了20世紀80年代到2010年的快速增長后，中新友好城市增長進入了相對穩定時期。從新西蘭姐妹城協會年會上反饋的情況來看，多數新西蘭城市已不滿足與我國友城一般性互訪，也開始采取措施，以能否吸引中方的投資或項目作為衡量其友城成效的重要指標。

南太平洋島國均為發展中國家，國家小，經濟落后。我國現與8個已建交島國中的6個建立了16對友城關系。南太平洋島國雖然不發達，但是資源豐富，潛力很大，我們將加大投入，與其共建“利益共同體”“命運共同體”。

2013 年10 月，在河北省與美國艾奧瓦州結好30 周年紀念活動上，中美少年演唱由全國友協集體作詞的、反映中美兩國人民的友好情誼的歌曲《情緣留住永恒的記憶》。

今年5月14日—18日，第二屆廣州—奧克蘭—洛杉磯“三城經濟聯盟”峰會在新西蘭舉行，3個大都市的市長就共同感興趣的話題進行深入探討。全國友協會長李小林率代表團應邀現場觀摩和指導。3個“好朋友”的力量集聚起來，碰撞出了新的火花。這種跨國友城合作模式無疑對務實合作起到促進作用，可資借鑒。

“很熱情，但很遙遠”

常聽到負責拉美地區工作的同志們講：“你們去美國訪問，到了美國，就算到達目的地了，我們到了美國，行程才走了一半。”阻礙中國與拉美地區開展友城工作的不僅僅是相距遙遠，雙方不了解，互補效應不甚明顯就成了阻礙中拉友城工作的另外一個原因。

2011 年11 月，中美文化藝術論壇在北京舉行。中美兩國著名電影演員葛優、劉燁和梅麗爾·斯特里普出席論壇。 （CFP）

截至目前，中國與拉美地區共建立了160多對友好城市（省州）關系。從數量上看，我國與拉美城市發展友城的空間仍然很大，雙方要加強信息互通，促成更多友好城市的建立。讓雙方城市在發展過程中積累的經驗惠及各自人民，讓雙方多彩的歷史文化豐富人民的生活，共享發展成果。

從區域上看，中方城市主要集中在經濟較發達省份和地區，拉美的結好對象則主要集中在巴西、阿根廷、智利、墨西哥等地區大國的首都或主要經濟、旅游城市，友城發展很不均衡。中國的三四線城市對外交往的渠道較少，走出去的動力和能力不足。同時，拉美中小城市體量小，產業和地方特色優勢不明顯，雙方應該增強互補性和合作契合點，尋找合適的友好城市。

從結好后的合作效果看，由于距離遙遠，雙方城市（省州）綜合實力、人口、資源、文化等差異較大，應該建立有效的定期溝通機制，促進實質性項目合作的開展。

近年來，全國友協在促進與拉美地方政府交往方面做了大量工作，與拉美省州政府組織、拉美城市和地方政府聯合會、墨西哥全國州長大會、智利城市協會等建立了長期的合作關系。通過這些組織，雙方建立了地方政府間溝通渠道，并開始搭建合作交流平臺。例如，2014年，我們舉辦了首屆中國智利友好城市論壇，今年，還將于11月9日在重慶舉辦首屆中拉地方政府合作論壇。

大洋那邊，更需努力，更加精彩

為使美大地區友城工作更好地服務“走出去”戰略，增進與美大地區人民的友誼，加強合作，我們需要分類指導，一國一策。

精耕細作，創新引領。中美兩國作為世界上第二和第一大經濟體，各有優勢，互補性強，合作潛力巨大。美國在基礎研究、科技創新、文化創意、航天醫藥等領域都處于世界領先水平，值得我們學習借鑒。未來對美友城工作在夯實基礎、消除空白點的同時，一定要注重內容和形式的創新，用創新來引領對美合作，充分挖掘潛力，兩國構建新型大國關系增添正能量。

穩中求進，歷久彌新。發揮好中新（新西蘭）市長論壇、中澳省州負責人論壇基礎上，加大與加拿大聯邦理事會合作力度，促成與加拿大地方政府合作平臺早日建立。借助“海上絲綢之路”南向的東風，緊貼國家和地方省市發展戰略，充分發揮澳大利亞姐妹城協會和新西蘭姐妹城協會的作用，配合地方省市不斷打造友城合作新亮點。

開拓進取，春華秋實。隨著互聯網技術的運用及我國航空業的發展，在不久的將來，距離將不再是阻礙中拉交流的障礙，在中國經濟逐漸融入世界的過程中，與廣大的拉美國家的交流合作會越來越熱。只要我們放眼長遠，腳踏實地，就一定能打開拉美友城工作的新局面，把合作的潛力轉變為互利共贏的實實在在的成果。

（全國友協美大工作部供稿、供圖）

America and Oceania (hereinafter referred to as “Meida” region) covers the whole Western Hemisphere and the South Pacific region including North America and South America. There are 51 countries comprising the only superpower America, the least developed countries Haiti, Vanuatu, Tuvalu.Showing similarities in the huge differences of geographic factors and characteristics of other countries, the sister city work in “Meida” region not only have the bright side of vigorous development, but diffi cult side of challenges and opportunities interdependent.

“To us, you represent America”

Vice President Xi Jinping paid a visit to the city of Muscatine, Iowa in 2012. He talked with his old friends of America who entertained him 27 years ago when he visited America. He said with emotion: “coming back to Muscatine after 27 years’ leave, the impression of that year occurs to my mind again. I feel very cordial here to see you again. This place has left such a profound impression that none of you can feel.You are the fi rst group of Americans I saw, so the first impression of America came from you. To me, you represent America.”

Xi Jinping, who was working in Zhengding County, Hebei Province in 1985, led a delegation to Iowa. In 1992, old friends of Iowa visited China at the invitation of President Xi.Later, Brans Tad ,the governor of Iowa, and also a governor who has the longest term of office in American history, had vowed to turn Iowa into the most friendly state to China, all of which originated in 1983 when Hebei Province and Iowa became friendly provinces.

The regional exchanges of China and America including exchanges of sister cities have always been one of the important driving force for steady progress in Sino-US relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries in 1979, after Hubei Province and Ohio, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province and Saint Louis City, Missouri State had become the fi rst pair of friendship provinces and sister cities. China and the United States has concluded 46 pairs of friendship provinces and 212 sister cities. In 37 years, with the continuous development of China's further reform and opening up and the Sino-US relations, the two sides have been drawing on the strong points of each other to make up for weak points in such areas as the economic and trade cooperation, cultural and technical exchanges and personnel training, which has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

In recent years, China and America have jointly implemented many important regional exchange mechanism. The exchange of sister cities of the two sides has gradually become institutionalized and standardized. For example,since the Sino-US Governors Forum organized by The Chinese People’s Association For Friendship with Foreign Countries, three forums and two dialogues have been successfully held. President Xi Jinping attended this forum and delivered important speech at the third forum when he visited America. According to incomplete statistics, there were 33 governors of the United States, 26 Chinese leaders of provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) attending the forum. They exchanged ideas on economic development, environmental protection issues such as exchanges and achieved a series of cooperation results, which was a strong impetus to the pragmatic cooperation of two sides. Sino-US Sister City Meeting has been held in 2014 and 2015 in the United States held in succession. The third China-US Sister City Meeting will be held in November 18 to November 19 this year in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. This mechanism has become an important platform for two sides to share the experience of sister city exchange and explore opportunities for cooperation

Besides, by receiving a great number of important officials of local governments paying a visit to China, including American governors, deputy governors, mayors, State Council leader, Senators, the Chinese People’s Association For Friendship withForeign Countries helps the exchanges of China-US sister cities and promotes the friendship provinces, states and cities of two sides to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, science and technology, education.

2014 China-America Friendship Cities Conference was held in Washington D.C. Image from: Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)

Exchange Mechanism for Two Local Governments were Set Up in Australia and New Zealand in Three Days

In November 19 and 21, 2014, when President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Australia and New Zealand, he attended the fi rst Australia-China State/Provincial Leaders Forum and Launching Ceremony of New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum and an important speach on the exchanges of Australia- China and New Zealand-China local governments.In three days, two exchange mechanisms for two local governments had been set up and two activities in which President Xi attended had been held. Such work performance hitting the record still made the stuff in the working department of the Chinese People’s Association For Friendship with Foreign Countries excited when they recalled.

Canada and the United States have similarities in terms of size, economy and resource endowment, but since 1980 when the fi rst pair of sister cities in Canada and China, there are 13 pairs in every 10 years has been growing at a rate of about 13 per 10 years. Although the number grows slowly, the development of the sister cities of Canada and China still has great potential. In recent years, all governors of Canada has been enthusiastic about visiting to China.The present Government is also more active in developing relations with China. We will seize the opportunity to do more work and promote more sister cities in China and Canada.

The number of friendship cities of Australia and China has been growing fast. In the 1970s, there were only two pairs. From 2010 to now, the number has reached 24 pairs. If this momentum can be maintained, the number is expected to reach 40 pairs in 2020. The data properly reflects that since the reform and opening up, Sino-Australia relations have made considerable progress. In the future, when we pursue the number of sister cities, we should focus on the quality of exchanges based on the good relationship of Australia and China.

The situation in New Zealand is different. After experiencing rapid growth from the 1980s to 2010, the growth of Sino-Singapo sister cities have entered a relatively stable period. Seen from the feedback of the Annual Meeting of the New Zealand Sister Cities Association, most New Zealand cities are not satisfi ed with the general visits with our sister cities and have begun to take actions. They take attracting Chinese investment or projects as a measure of effectiveness of their sister cities.

South Pacific island countries are developing countries. The country is small and the economy is backward. China has established 16 pairs sister cities with 8 island countries that had build diplomatic relations with China. Although the South Pacifi c island is not developed, but rich in resources. The potential is very great. We will increase investment and build a community of interests and community of destiny.

In May 14 to 18, the second Oakland - Los Angeles -Guangzhou, Tripartite Economic Alliance Summit was held in New Zealand, the mayors of three metropolitan cities conducted in-depth discussion on the topic of common interest. National Friendship Association President Li Xiaolin and his delegation was invited to the spot to observe and guide.The strength of three good friends collided and sparkled. The mode of transnational sister-cities cooperation will undoubtedly promote pragmatic cooperation. This mode can be used for reference.

Very Enthusiastic but Remote

I often hear comrades who are responsible for the work in Latin America Comrades say: “ when you visited the United States and reached the United States,you already reached thedestination; when we went to the United States, we had just fi nished half of the journey.” What prevents China and the Latin American region from carrying out the work of sister cities is not remote distance, but the lack of understanding of two sides. The complementary effect is not obvious, which has become another reason to hinder the work of sister cities.

Up to now, China and Latin America have established more than 160 pairs of sister cities (provinces and states). In terms of quantity, the development space of sister cities between China and Latin American is still very broad.The two sides should strengthen the exchange of information, promote the establishment of more sister cities, make the cities of both sides benefi t their own people by using the experience accumulated in the process of development, make the rich history and culture enrich the lives of the people of both sides and share the fruits of development.

From the regional perspective, the cities of China are mainly in some economically developed provinces and regions. But the targets of friendship for in Latin America is mainly in some capital cities,major tourist and economic cities, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico. The development of sister cities is out of balance. There are few foreign exchange channel for China’s third-tier cities and fourth-tier cities.They lack the power and ability to go out. At the same time, small and medium-sized cities in Latin America are not strong enough. The advantages of industry and local characteristics are not obvious, so the two sides should enhance complementarity and conjunction point of cooperation fi t point and look for the suitable sister cities.

From the effect after a good cooperation, because of remote distance, the cities of both sides (provinces and states) greatly differ in comprehensive strength, population, resources, and culture. The two sides should establish a regular effective communication mechanism to promote the implementation of the cooperation in pragmatic projects.

In recent years, the National Friendship Association has done a lot of work in promoting exchanges with local governments of Latin America. It has establish a long-term cooperative relationship with Latin American state government,cities of Latin America, Regional Governments Association, Mexico National Governors Conference and Chile City Association. Through these organizations, the two sides established a communication channel among local governments, and began to build a platform for cooperation and exchanges. For example, in 2014, we held the first Forum on China- Chile Sister City. This year, the first Forum on China-Latin America Local Government Cooperation will be held in November 9th in Chongqing.

Over the Ocean, More Efforts are Needed to become More Wonderful

In order to make the work of sister city in “Meida” region better serve the strategy of going out, enhance the friendship and cooperation with the people of “Meida” region, we need to guide one area with one policy.

Intensive cultivation and innovation leading. As the first and second largest economy in the world, China and the United States each has its advantages, strong complementarity and great potential in cooperation. The United States is in the world’s leading level in terms of basic research, scientific and technological innovation, cultural creativity, aerospace, medicine and other fi elds, which is worth learning from. The future work of “Meida” sister city should not only focus on solid foundation and elimination of blank spots, but pay more attention to the content and form of innovation. We should lead the cooperation with Latin America by innovation, fully tap the potential and add positive energy to build new model of major-country relationship between the two countries.

Make progress while ensuring stability and everlasting new. We should bring New Zealand-China Mayoral Forum and Australia-China Provincial/State Leaders Forum into full play, strengthen the cooperation with Canadian Federation Council and promote the early establishment of local government cooperation platform with Canada. We should take advantage of Maritime Silk Road to get close to the development strategy of nations, provinces and cities,bring Australia Sister City Association and New Zealand Sister City Association into full play and coordinate with provinces and cities to continuously create bright spots of sister city cooperation.

Forge ahead, Spring Seeding for Autumn Harvest. With the employment of Internet technology and the development of China's aviation industry, in the near future, the distance will no longer be the obstacle for China and Latin America to communicate. In the course of Chinese economy gradually integrating into the world, the exchanges and cooperation with Latin American countries will become increasingly hot. As long as we expand our horizon and are down to earth, we will be able to open a new situation in the work of sister city and turn the potential of cooperation into mutual benefi t and win-win results.

（Provided by Working Department of The Chinese People’s Association For Friendship with Foreign Countries）

Cross the Ocean to Build Friendship Mutual Benefi t Promotes Win-win Situation