城市外交：中歐關系發展的新引擎

城市外交：中歐關系發展的新引擎

近年來，中歐關系發展迅速。正如習近平主席今年3月在捷克《權利報》發表的署名文章中所寫：“中歐關系正處于歷史發展最好時期，面臨前所未有的歷史機遇。”

城市外交是中歐關系的重要組成部分。自2015年以來，歐洲主要國家紛紛加強了與中國開展城市外交的力度，著力打造雙邊城市外交機制性平臺，積極推動雙方城市開展交流與合作，使城市外交成為中歐關系發展的新引擎。

今年3月，經英國政府主動提議，首屆中英地方領導人論壇在英國倫敦市和謝菲爾德市舉行。首屆論壇以“長江經濟帶和英格蘭北方經濟中心合作”為主題，旨在推動中英重要區域發展戰略對接。中國人民對外友好協會（以下簡稱“全國友協”）李小林會長和來自江西省、重慶市、湖北省、湖南省、成都市和武漢市的政府領導人出席論壇。來自中國長江經濟帶和英國英格蘭北方經濟中心的地方政府和企業代表以及英國政商高層、學術精英等約500人參加了本次交流活動。武漢市與其友城曼徹斯特市簽署了《武漢和曼徹斯特關于開展長江中游城市群與英格蘭北方經濟中心戰略合作研究的協議》；成都市與其友城謝菲爾德市簽署了《成都市與謝菲爾德市2016-2020戰略合作備忘錄》和《成都市與謝菲爾德市關于開展國際教育合作諒解備忘錄》。今年11月2日，第二屆中英地方領導人論壇在上海舉行。英國社區和地方政府部部長賈維德率領英國中部地區7個城市的市長出席論壇，與來自中國東部沿海地區的城市領導人就產業升級、教育和文化項目合作進行了交流，簽署了一系列合作協議和諒解備忘錄。

2012 年4 月，深圳市與喀山市簽署《友好交流城市備忘錄》。

2015年6月—10月，“中歐城市文化論壇暨中歐造紙和印刷文化交流特展”在德國紐倫堡工業博物館展出。

今年6月，在習近平主席對波蘭進行國事訪問之際，由全國友協、波蘭經濟發展部和波蘭外交部共同舉辦的第四屆中波地方論壇在華沙舉行。全國友協李小林會長和陜西省省委書記婁勤儉、時任湖北省省長王國生、四川省省長尹力、貴州省省長孫志剛、河南省副省長趙建才、時任寧波市代市長唐一軍等中方省市領導與會。論壇以“加強物流樞紐建設、推動地方務實合作”為主題。圍繞“基礎設施與交通”“老工業基地的振興與發展”和“培育地方創新與增長”三個板塊進行了充分研討，達成了重要共識。會后，中波雙方共同發表了《關于加強中國波蘭地方合作的倡議》并簽署了多個項目合作協議。雙方一致商定第五屆中波地方論壇將于2017年夏在湖北省武漢市舉行。隨后，中波與會代表又共同出席了由全國友協、國務院發展研究中心和貿促會共同舉辦的絲路國際論壇暨中波地方與經貿合作論壇開幕式，共同聆聽了習近平主席和波蘭總統杜達發表的重要講話。習近平主席指出：“地方政府接地氣，有貼近民眾、溝通民心、惠及民生的優勢，中國各地都有自己的獨特優勢，開展國際合作的熱情很高，中國政府對此積極鼓勵和支持。中波兩國已經有27對友好城市，地方政府應該繼續加強交流，為當地企業和其他民間機構開展合作多搭橋、搭好橋，拓展各領域務實合作，夯實中波友好的民間基礎。”李小林會長代表全國友協也在開幕式上進行了簡短致辭。

2013 年3 月，中歐文化論壇在德國德紐倫堡舉行。

今年10月，第五屆中法地方政府合作高層論壇在成都舉行。全國人大常委會副委員長吉炳軒與法國外長埃羅出席論壇開幕式。來自法國地區、省、市的地方領導人70余人與中國省市和企業界代表200余人匯聚一堂，圍繞可持續發展、健康養老、教育、創新創業、旅游和文化遺產保護與開發6個專題進行了深入研討。論壇期間，全國友協還向7對中法城市頒發了“中法地方合作獎”。這些城市通過地方合作，達成了實實在在的合作項目，為當地經濟社會發展作出了積極貢獻。中法雙方還商定2017年在法國舉行中法地方政府高層論壇屆中會，繼續推動和落實在本次論壇上達成的一些初步合作意向。

今年11月下旬，由中俄友協、絲路研究中心和中信改革發展研究基金會共同舉辦的首屆中俄經貿合作與地方交流論壇將在深圳市舉行。會議以推動中俄地方與企業開展實質性合作為宗旨，將就裝備制造業、航空工業、IT產業、旅游、農業等領域的合作進行深入探討。會議結束后，相關地方政府和企業還將成立工作組，繼續就各自議題和項目保持溝通協調，跟蹤項目進展，為下一屆論壇取得更加實質性的成果打好基礎。

2005 年8 月，中歐青少年藝術夏令營。

今年12月初，由全國友協和丹麥駐華使館共同舉辦的首屆中丹地方政府合作論壇將在北京舉行，中丹地方政府和企業界的300余人將就環保、農業、能源合作開展研討。中國與丹麥地方政府合作在中國與北歐國家友城發展中起到引領作用。中丹友城在綠色農業、環境保護、人文交流和人員培訓方面開展了豐富的交流。哈爾濱市、連云港市、蘇州市、無錫市等城市先后與丹麥農業和城市管理方面開展了卓有成效的合作。第二屆中丹論壇已確定2017年在丹麥舉行。

2017年，全國友協還將著力打造中國與中東歐16國城市外交的交流平臺，繼續做大做強與西班牙、德國的地方交流項目，積極吸引企業、教育、文化、體育等各界人士加入城市外交的行列，推動城市外交往實處做、往深處做，讓城市外交為中歐關系長期穩定健康發展提供不竭動力。

（全國友協歐亞工作部供稿、供圖）

In recent years, China-EU relations have developed rapidly. As President Xi Jinping wrote in a signed article published on the Czech : “China-EU relations are at their best period in history and are presented with unprecedented historic opportunities for further growth.”

City diplomacy is an important part of China-Eu relations. Since 2015, the major European countries have been strengthening the efforts to carry out city diplomacy with China, striving for building the bilateral institutional platform for city diplomacy and actively promoting the exchanges and cooperation between two sides, which makes city diplomacy a new engine to the development of China-EU relations.

In June 2015, China-Europe Cultural Panel and China-Europe Paper-Making and Print Communication Exhibition was held in Industrial Museum, Nuremberg, Germany. Image from: Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)

In April 2016, China-Europe City’s Cultural Panel was held in city hall of Nuremberg Germany. Image from: Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)

In March this year, the British government took the initiative in proposing that the fi rst Sino-British Local Leadership Forum be held in London and Sheffi eld. The fi rst forum was on the theme of the cooperation between Yangtze River economic belt and northern England economic center, which was aimed at promoting the strategic docking of important regional development of China and Britain. Li Xiao Lin, the President of The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (hereinafter referred to as National Association for Friendship ) and government leaders from Jiangxi Province , Chongqing Municipality, Hubei Province, Hu’nan Province, Chengdu City and Wuhan City attended the forum. About 500 people participated in the exchange activities, including the local government and business representatives from China Yangtze River economic belt and northern England economic center as well as British political and business executives, academic elite, and so on. about 500 people participated in the exchange activities. Wuhan City and its sister city Manchester signed Wuhan and Manchester Agreement on Carrying out the Strategic Cooperation between the City Cluster in Yangtze River’ Middle Reaches and the Northern England Economic Center. Chengdu City and its sister city Sheffield City signed Chengdu and Sheffield 2016- 2020 Strategic Cooperation Memorandum and Chengdu and Sheffield City Memorandum of Understanding on International Education Cooperation .On November 2, the China-British Local Leadership Forum was held in Shanghai. Jie Weide, the minister of UK Community and Local Government Ministry, led the mayors of seven cities in central England to attend the forum to exchange views with city leaders from the eastern coastal areas of China on industrial upgrading, education and cultural project cooperation and signed a series of cooperation agreements and memorandum of understanding. The two sides agreed that the fifth China and Poland Local Forum will be held in the summer of 2017 in Wuhan. Then, the participants of the two sides attended the opening ceremony of Silk Road International Forum and China-Poland Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum jointly organized by the National Friendship Association, the Development Research Center of the State Council and Trade Promotion Association, and listened to the important speeches delivered by President Xi Jinping and President Duda of Poland. President Xi pointed out: “ local governments are down to earth, they have the advantage of being close to the people, communicating with the people and benefiting people's livelihood, China’s all regions have their own unique advantages. They are enthusiastic about carrying out international cooperation, and Chinese government will actively encourage and support them. The two countries have 27 sister city, so the local government should continue to strengthen exchanges, do much bridging work for the cooperation of local businesses and other private sectors, expand pragmatic cooperation in various fi elds, consolidate friendly non-governmental foundation of China and Poland.” On behalf of the National Friendship Association, President Li Xiaolin also made a short speech at the opening ceremony.

In October 2015, series of events that celebrating 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Europe were held in Brussels, Belgium. Image from: Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)

In October of this year, The Fifth China-France Local Government Cooperation Advanced Forum will be held in Chengdu. Vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Ji Binxuan and France Foreign Minister Elohim attended the opening ceremony of the forum. More than 70 local leaders from regions, provinces and municipalities of France gathered together with more than 200 Chinese representatives from provinces, municipalities and business community conducted in-depth research and discussion on sustainable development, health care for the aged, education, innovation and entrepreneurship, tourism and cultural heritage protection and development. During the forum, the National Friendship Association also awarded the "Sino-French Local Cooperation Award" to 7 pairs of Chinese and French cities. Through local cooperation, to These cities has achieved a real cooperation projects, making a positive contribution to the local economic and social development. China and France also agreed to hold a Sino-French Local Government Advanced Forum in France in 2017, and continue to promote and implement some preliminary cooperation intentions reached at this forum.

In late November, the First China-Russian Economic and Trade Cooperation and Local Exchanges Forum jointly organized by China and Russia Friendship Association and CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies, the Silk Road Research Center and China-Russian Friendship Association. The forum will aim at promoting the pragmatic cooperation of regions and enterprises of China and Russia. It will conduct an in-depth discussion on equipment manufacturing industry, aviation industry, IT industry, tourism, agriculture and other areas of cooperation. After the forum, relevant local governments and enterprises will set up working groups in order to continue to keep communication and coordination on their topics and trace project development, which will lay a solid foundation for the pragmatic achievements of the next forum.

At the beginning of December, the First Sino-Denmark Local Government Cooperation Forum jointly organized by National Friendship Association and Danish Embassy in China will be held in Beijing. More than 300 people from Chinese and Danish local governments and business community will conduct discussion on environmental protection, agriculture and energy cooperation. The cooperation of Chinese and Danish local governments plays a leading role in the development of sister cities between China and countries in northern Europe. Sino-Danish sister has carried out rich exchanges in green agriculture, environmental protection, cultural exchange and personnel training. Harbin, Lianyungang, Suzhou, Wuxi and other cities have carried out fruitful cooperation with Denmark in agriculture and urban management. The second Sino-Denmark Forum has been decided to be held in Denmark in 2017.

platform for city diplomacy of China and 16 countries in central and eastern Europe, continue to strengthen the regional exchange projects with Germany and Spain, actively attract people from all walks of life , such as the community of enterprises, education, culture and sports, to join the ranks of city diplomacy, promote the city diplomacy to be pragmatic and intensive and let city diplomacy offer inexhaustible driving force for the long-term and stable development of China-Europe relations

(Provided by Eurasian Work Department of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries）

City Diplomacy: A New Engine to the Development of Sino-European Relations