李書竹



2013年12月30日,意大利駐重慶總領事館開館。這是繼上海、廣州、香港后,意大利在中國設立的第四個領事館,為意大利與中國西南地區架起溝通的橋梁,提供了更加廣闊的平臺。意大利總領館選址重慶,其歷史淵源與現實原因,是中意兩國關系中值得探究的話題。
中意兩國交往的歷史,最早可追溯到漢朝與古代羅馬帝國時期。馬可·波羅、利瑪竇等人遠渡重洋來到中國的壯舉,成為歐洲家喻戶曉的故事。那么,他們的游歷與中國西南地區究竟有什么關聯?從中我們可以展望意大利在這一地區雙邊關系的進一步發展,以及雙邊合作的新機遇。
十三世紀馬可·波羅有沒有來過重慶?
意大利旅行家、商人馬可·波羅曾通過絲綢之路,在元世祖忽必烈在位時來到中國,游歷了十幾年。回到威尼斯后,在一次海戰中被俘,他在監獄里口述其旅行經歷,由魯斯蒂謙寫出《馬可·波羅游記》。主要內容是他在中國各地的見聞,詳細記述了元朝時期的經濟、文化、民情、風俗,記錄下了當時西安、開封、南京、杭州、揚州、福州等地的繁榮景象。該書第一次較全面地將地大物博、文教昌明的中國形象展示在世人面前,對東西方互通了解有很大的貢獻。
1258年,蒙古可汗蒙哥率兵進攻四川,攻至重慶合川釣魚城時,遭到當地軍民頑強抵抗。次年,蒙哥病逝,其弟忽必烈繼位,進一步爭奪以重慶為中心的四川沿江諸城。1278年,元軍對重慶發起總攻,重慶遭到蒙古軍破城……
若《馬可·波羅游記》記載年份確鑿,在重慶被元軍攻下之后的兩年,馬可·波羅便南下開始了他在中國南部的游歷。而重慶在唐宋時代,只是西南地區的一個普通州府,直至南宋晚期,在蒙古大軍壓境的形勢之下,重慶才成為了川陜四路的駐節之地。因此,在受忽必烈派遣南下的馬可·波羅的敘述中,有描寫成都的句子,而成都以東300多公里的州城重慶卻沒有被提及。
開埠后及二戰期間重慶成為中國重要的外交主場
開埠標志著重慶對外開放的開端。1891年,中英簽訂《煙臺條約續增專條》,即《重慶通商條約》,重慶就此開埠,外國商船、洋行、醫院、使領館相繼進入中國的西南腹地。1895年,中日《馬關條約》開重慶為通商口岸,重慶成為當時中國內陸最西端的開埠通商口岸。十余年間,英國 、法國 、日本 、美國、德國先后在重慶設立領事館。
抗日戰爭爆發前,在中國的外交使節來自22個國家,包括8國大使:蘇聯、德國、美國、日本、法國、英國、意大利、比利時;11國特命公使及全權公使:古巴、葡萄牙、丹麥、波蘭、荷蘭、巴西、挪威、墨西哥、芬蘭、瑞典、捷克斯洛伐克;1國代辦:瑞士;2國臨時代辦:智利、秘魯。
抗日戰爭全面爆發后,隨著國民政府遷都重慶,各國駐中國使領館和使節,分期分批以不同方式轉至武漢,后逐步來到重慶。戰時重慶對外交往的歷史,大體可分為以下三個階段:
第一階段(1937—1940):10個國家同時在重慶設有使領館。1937年“盧溝橋事變”后,日本大舉侵略中國,直逼南京,形勢危急。11月17日,國民政府主席林森率領國民政府撤離南京,并于3日后在武漢宣布遷都重慶,重慶正式擔負起中國戰時首都的責任。
據研究統計,到1940 年,共有10個國家同時在重慶設有使領館,有大使館7個:美國、英國、法國、蘇聯、德國、意大利、比利時;公使館3個:荷蘭、土耳其、墨西哥。
第二階段(1941—1943):駐渝外國外交使領館達到13個。抗日戰爭爆發后的一段時期,以美國為首的西方國家在中日戰爭中采取“中立”立場。隨著日本侵華加劇,到1941年,西方對日本實施更多禁令。同年12月7日,日軍突襲駐守在珍珠港的美國太平洋艦隊,將中日之間的國家戰爭升級為兩大對立陣營之間的全球戰爭。世界外交格局發生根本轉變,中國加入同盟國組織。1941年7月1日,中國政府與德國、意大利斷絕外交關系,兩國外交官旋即離開重慶。隨后斷交的還有羅馬尼亞和丹麥。中國在與軸心國斷絕外交關系的同時,加強了與英聯邦國家的聯系,與加拿大、印度、埃及、伊朗和梵蒂岡建立了外交關系。
第三階段(1943—1946):22個國家在重慶派駐外交使領館。1943年是中國與盟友戰時合作的頂峰之年。這一時期,在美國主導下,推動了廢除西方國家與中國之間不平等條約的進程,同時將中國納入“四大國”力量體系。
1943年初,美、英兩國正式放棄在華治外法權。這一年,中國受邀參與了若干高級別國際峰會,享有了前所未有的國際地位。國民政府利用這一機遇,使幾乎所有外國在重慶的外交使團都得以擴展或升至大使級關系。其中升格的有:波蘭、荷蘭、挪威、墨西哥、土耳其、加拿大、捷克斯洛伐克;新設大使館的有:秘魯、伊朗、阿根廷、意大利、智利、巴西。
改革開放后重慶及西南地區與意大利的交流合作
新中國成立以來,特別是改革開放以來,重慶經濟建設取得了長足發展,作為中國重要的工業基地之一,已成為西南地區和長江上游的經濟中心城市和重要的交通樞紐。這一時期,重慶與意大利在工業領域開展了系列合作。
2004年,國內摩托車民營企業的重要代表重慶宗申產業集團與國際摩托車行業的頂尖企業意大利比亞喬集團,合資成立宗申—比亞喬摩托車公司。該公司投資2億元建成的摩托車生產基地,成為了比亞喬全球采購體系中的重要一環。
此后,重慶與意大利的合作不斷深入。2005年,意大利菲亞特集團與重慶紅巖汽車打造合資項目;2009年7月,重慶力帆實業(集團)進出口有限公司在意設立力帆意大利有限責任公司;2010年5月,意大利勞動和社會政策部部長毛里奇奧·薩科尼和經濟發展部副部長阿道夫·烏爾索,率150家企業代表來渝考察,與上百家重慶企業成功對接,雙方在汽車、能源、環保、消費食品、服裝紡織、機械生產等多個領域洽談合作。
2013年12月,意大利駐重慶總領事館開館,這是意大利在中國西南地區設立的首家領事館,領區包括重慶、四川、貴州、云南。2014年1月,意大利駐重慶總領事館與四川外國語大學簽訂框架性合作協議,將為川外學生提供培訓、實習機會,為川外教職工提供科研交流、培訓機會,共同開展文化交流與學術活動等。同年,受國家旅游局駐羅馬辦事處邀請,意大利國家電視臺《GEO》節目攝制組赴中國上海、重慶、湖北等省市拍攝以“人與自然”為主題的電視紀錄片,推廣“美麗中國之旅”旅游形象。通過他們的鏡頭,洪崖洞、湖廣會館、長江索道,以及小面、火鍋等重慶美景美食,生動地呈現在意大利觀眾的眼前。
2014年7月,時任意大利駐重慶總領事馬非同邀請意大利國家電視臺第一頻道著名主持人Duilio Giammaria來渝采訪,以《重慶》為名制作專題紀錄片,重慶的經濟社會發展成就尤其是中歐班列(渝新歐)引起了意大利工商界的關注。
2017年2月,意大利總統塞爾焦·馬塔雷拉,攜外交與國際合作部部長、基層設施與交通部部長、意大利駐華大使等40余人組成的政府代表團訪問重慶。同年8月,在意大利駐重慶總領館的推動下,兩國政府簽訂協議成立重慶兩江新區中意產業園,為意大利企業在中國西南地區開展貿易提供更加便利的環境。
意大利是歐洲的重要國家,而重慶處在“一帶一路”和長江經濟帶的聯結點上,是西部大開發的重要戰略支點,正積極建設內陸開放高地,打造中西部國際交往中心。目前,意大利已經通過中歐班列(渝新歐)進行貨物運輸。同時,借助意大利駐重慶總領事館這一平臺,中國西南地區將與意大利在環保、消除貧困縮短貧富差距、農業、醫療等多個方面進一步加強合作。
作者單位/四川外國語大學 圖片/市政府外辦提供
編輯/賀煜
The consulate general of Italy in Chongqing was inaugurated on December 30, 2013. As the fourth Italian consulate general in China after the ones in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hongkong, it serves as a bridge for the exchanges between Italy and southwest China. The historical origins and contemporary reasons for selecting Chongqing as its site is a topic worthy of discussion in China-Italy relations.
The history of exchanges between China and Italy dates back to the Han Dynasty and the ancient Roman Empire. The voyages of Marco Polo, Matteo Ricci and other Italians to China have become household stories in Europe. So, what is the connection between their voyages and southwest China? From the answer to this question, we may see the the prospect of further growth of bilateral relations in this region and new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
Thirteenth century
Had Marco Polo ever been to Chongqing?
Marco Polo, an Italian traveler and businessman, traveled to China through the Silk Road during the reign of Kublai Khan, an emperor of Yuan Dynasty, and spent more than a decade in China. After returning to Venice and upon being captured in a naval battle, he told about his travel experience in prison, and Rustichello wrote about it and named it The Travels of Marco Polo. The Book mainly recorded Marco Polo's experience in China and described in detail the economy, culture and folk customs of the Yuan Dynasty, as well as the prosperity of Xi'an, Kaifeng, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Yangzhou, Fuzhou and some other places at that time. For the first time, it presented the image of China as a country with vast territory, abundant resources and highly-developed culture and education, making a great contribution to the mutual understanding between the East and the West.
In 1258, Mongke, the Mongolian Khan, attacked Sichuan with his troops and reached the Fishing Town of Hechuan in Chongqing, where they encountered fierce resistance from the local military and civilians. The ensuing year, Mongke died of illness and Kublai Khan, his younger brother, succeeded to the throne and further contended for the cities centered around Chongqing along the Yangtze River in Sichuan Province. In 1278, the Mongol army launched a general attack on Chongqing and seized the city…
If the dates recorded in The Travels of Marco Polo are correct, two years after Chongqing was occupied by the Mongol army, Marco Polo began his journey to the south of China. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, Chongqing was just an ordinary prefecture in southwest China. In the late Southern Song Dynasty, Chongqing became the garrison of Sichuan after being besieged by the Mongolian army. Therefore, in the description of Marco Polo, who was sent by Kublai Khan to the south, there were sentences describing Chengdu, while Chongqing, the prefecture around 300 km east of Chengdu, was not mentioned.
Opening-up as a commercial port and the World War II period
Chongqing becomes an important diplomatic hub for China
Port opening marked the beginning of Chongqing's opening-up. In 1891, China and the United Kingdom signed the Yantai Treaty Amendment, also known as the Commercial Treaty of Chongqing. Chongqing was hence opened up for trade, and foreign merchant ships, foreign firms, foreign hospitals, embassies and consulates successively entered Chongqing, the hinterland of southwest China. In 1895, China and Japan signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki and Chongqing was opened as a treaty port, making Chongqing the west-most port in inland China at that time. In the decade since then, Britain, France, Japan, the United States and Germany successively set up consulates in Chongqing.
Before the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, diplomatic envoys in China came from 22 countries, including 8 ambassadors from Soviet Union, Germany, United States, Japan, France, Britain, Italy and Belgium; 11 ministers extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary from Cuba, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, Finland, Sweden and Czechoslovakia; 1 consular agent from Switzerland; 2 interim consular agents from Chile and Peru.
After the war broke out, as the Nanjing KMT Government moved its capital to Chongqing, the embassies and consulates of various countries in China first moved to Wuhan, and then gradually moved to Chongqing. The history of Chongqing's foreign exchanges during the War can be generally divided into the following three stages:
Stage I (1937–1940): 10 countries set up embassies and consulates in Chongqing. After the "Lugou Bridge Incident" in 1937, Japan invaded China on a large scale and pushed Nanjing into a critical situation. On November 17, Lin Sen, the chairman of the Nanjing KMT Government, led the government to withdraw from Nanjing. Three days later, he announced in Wuhan that the capital would be moved to Chongqing, making Chongqing the official capital of China during the War.
According to statistics, by 1940, 10 countries had set up embassies and consulates in Chongqing, including embassies from United States, United Kingdom, France, Soviet Union, Germany, Italy and Belgium, and legations from the Netherlands, Turkey and Mexico.
Stage II (1941–1943): there were 13 embassies and consulates in Chongqing. During the period after the outbreak of the War, the western countries, led by the United States, maintained a neutral position in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. As Japan's invasion of China intensified, the West imposed more bans on Japan by 1941. On December 7 of the same year, Japanese troops raided the United States Pacific Fleet garrisoned at Pearl Harbor, escalating the national war between China and Japan into a global war between two opposing camps. The pattern of diplomacy had undergone a fundamental change, and China joined the Allied Powers. On July 1, 1941, the Chinese government severed diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy, and the diplomats of the two countries left Chongqing immediately. Later, Chongqing severed diplomatic relations with Romania and Denmark. While severing diplomatic relations with the Axis Powers, China had strengthened its ties with the Commonwealth and established diplomatic relations with Canada, India, Egypt, Iran and Vatican.
Stage III (1943–1946): 22 countries stationed embassies and consulates in Chongqing. 1943 was the peak year of wartime cooperation between China and its allies. During this period, led by the United States, the process to abolish the unequal treaties between western countries and China was advanced and at the same time China was included in the power system of "Four Powers".
In early 1943, the United States and Britain formally gave up their extraterritorial jurisdiction in China. In this year, China was invited to several high-level international summits and enjoyed an unprecedented international status. The KMT government took advantage of this opportunity to expand or upgrade almost all foreign diplomatic missions in Chongqing to ambassadorial levels. The upgraded countries were Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Mexico, Turkey, Canada, Czechoslovakia; and the countries who opened new embassies were Peru, Iran, Argentina, Italy, Chile and Brazil.
After the reform and opening up
Exchanges and cooperation between Chongqing and Italy
Since the founding of New China, especially since the reform and opening up, Chongqing has made great progress in economic construction. As one of China's important industrial bases, Chongqing has grown into an economic hub and an important transportation hub in southwest China and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. During this period, Chongqing and Italy carried out a series of industrial cooperation.
In 2004, Zongshen Industrial Group, an important representative of domestic private motorcycle enterprises, and Piaggio Group, a top international motorcycle enterprise, jointly established Zongshen & Piaggio Motorcycle. The motorcycle production base built by the company, with an investment of 200 million yuan, has become an important part of Piaggio's global purchasing system.
Since then, the cooperation between Chongqing and Italy has been deepening. In 2005, Fiat Group and Chongqing Hongyan Automobile Co., Ltd. established a joint venture. In July 2009, Lifan Group Corporation set up Lifan (Italy) Co., Ltd. in Italy. In May 2010, Maurizio Sacconi, minister of labor and social policy of Italy, and Adolfo Urso, deputy minister of economic development, led a delegation of 150 entrepreneurs to visit Chongqing and successfully met and communicated with hundreds of Chongqing enterprises. The two sides discussed cooperation in automotive, energy, environmental protection, consumer food, clothing and textiles, machinery manufacturing and other fields.
In December 2013, the Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing, the first Italian consulate in southwest China, opened. The Consulate General covers the area of Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan. In January 2014, it signed a framework cooperation agreement with Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) to provide training and internship opportunities for SISU students, scientific research exchange and training opportunities for its faculty members, and jointly carry out cultural exchanges and academic activities. In the same year, at the invitation of the Rome office of the National Tourism Administration, the film crew of the Program GEO of the RAI went to Shanghai, Chongqing, Hubei and other provinces and cities of China to shoot a TV documentary with the theme of "Human and Nature" to promote the tourism image of "Journey to Beautiful China". Through these shots, Hongyadong, Huguang Guild Hall, Yangtze River Cableway, Chongqing spicy noodles, hotpot and other beautiful scenery and delicious food in Chongqing were vividly presented to the Italian audience.
In July 2014, Sergio Maffettone, the then consul general of Italy in Chongqing, invited Duilio Giammaria, a famous host of RAI Channel One, to Chongqing for an interview, and produced a documentary named Chongqing. The economic and social achievements of Chongqing, especially the China Railway Express (Yuxinou), attracted the attention of the Italian industrial and business communities.
In February 2017, Italian president Sergio Mattarella visited Chongqing with a government delegation of more than 40 officials, including the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, the minister of infrastructure and transportation, and the Italian ambassador to China. In August of the same year, under the promotion of the Consulate General of Italy in Chongqing, the two governments signed an agreement to establish Sino-Italian Industrial Park in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, providing a more convenient environment for Italian enterprises to trade with southwest China.
Italy is an important country in Europe, and Chongqing, located at the junction of the Belt and Road and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, is an important strategic stronghold for the development of the western region. Chongqing is actively branding itself as the inland opening-up leader and an international communication center for the central and western regions. At present, Italy is already transporting goods through the China Railway Express (Yuxinou). At the same time, with the help of the Consulate General, southwest China will further strengthen cooperation with Italy in environmental protection, poverty eradication and narrowing of the gap between the rich and poor, agriculture, health care and other aspects.
Authors affiliation/Sichuan International Studies University
Editor/He Yu