On July 18th at 19:00, 28 diplomats from 26 European countries arrived in Chengdu, initiating their visit of 4 days. Yesterday, they visited Qingbaijiang Logistics Park to have a better understanding of “Chengdu-Europe Express Rail” and had in-depth discussion with responsible officials from multiple departments to seek more cooperative opportunities. What had made these diplomats from 26 European countries get together and visit Chengdu? Reporters have learned that this is one of the events of the 10th Workshop for European Diplomats held by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The workshop, with the theme of “The Prospects of One Belt and One Road and China-EU Cooperation”, would provide opportunities for diplomats to visit Chengdu and have a better understanding of Sichuan. These diplomats would attend discussions and praise that Chengdu, after further implementing “One Belt and One Road” strategy, would have more development opportunities and initiate more cooperation with EU.
Diplomats from 26 European countries visited Chengdu to focus on the prospects of “One Belt and One Road”
Workshop for European Diplomats is a training program especially for European diplomats held by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, beginning from 2005. It has been held 9 sessions, training 295 European diplomats in total. 40 European countries and EU institutions all sent officials to attend this workshop which has been an important platform for Europe to have a better understanding of China, enhance bilateral relationship and the cooperation between China-EU Foreign Affair Departments and improve the friendship between Chinese and European diplomats. The 10th Workshop for European diplomats is especially themed with “The Prospects of One Belt and One Road and China-EU Cooperation”. Diplomats also had in-depth discussions with Sichuan officials concerning the new prospects of One Belt and One Road.
It is reported that these diplomats aimed to inspect the cooperation programs between Sichuan and Europe, and learn the economic and social development of Sichuan and opening up and so on. Journalists also learn that these 28 diplomats are from 26 European countries, including Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Czech and so on. They are directors responsible for public diplomacy, politics, and security affairs, counselors, senior policy advisers, secretaries and so on. They are all elites in charge of foreign affairs, playing extremely important roles in strengthening Sichuan and Europe exchange and establishing sister cities. Officials from Department of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs of Sichuan Provincial People's Government indicated that Europe was the largest economic and trade cooperation partner of Sichuan and Sichuan wanted to comprehensively promote mutual exchanges and cooperation in trade, culture, tourism, culture, education and so on.
Focusing on Chengdu-Europe Express Rail and praising Chengdu of implementing “One Belt and One Road”
For 4 days, 28 diplomats had a full and busy schedule. Currently, they would visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jinsha Site, the Broad and Narrow Alley and so on to have a better and direct understanding of Chengdu’s ecological civilization construction and historical and cultural backgrounds.
As the transportation artery of Chengdu to the west, Chengdu-Europe Express Rail was also an important destination for diplomats. After 8:00, they began to head for Qingbaijiang to inspect Chengdu-Europe Express Rial and Railway Container Center. Accompanied and introduced by relevant officials, diplomats visited Joint Inspection Hall and Qingbaijiang Industry Development Hall, and listened to the instruction of operation situation of “Chengdu-Europe Express Rail” and “Central Asia Rail”, as well as district advantages, industrial development planning, and the implementation of “One Belt and One Road”. Then, they also climbed to the platform of Modern Logistics Building and gazed the whoever logistics park. During their visit, they took notes or took photos with cameras or cellphones.
"I come from Lodz, the ending of Chengdu-Europe Express Rail and sister city of Chengdu.” An official from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland said. He was quite pleased and proud of the in-depth cooperation between Chengdu and Lodz. “I wish Chengdu-Europe Express Rail would increase their rails, enlarge trade and economic exchanges between Chengdu and Lodz, even with more European countries, and achieve win-win situation.”
It is learned that today diplomats will visit Chengdu Planning Hall to have a deeper understanding of Chengdu’s culture, history, planning construction and so on.
Looking forward to sharing opportunities and cooperation with Chengdu concerning “One Belt and One Road”
Their visit to Chengdu has left good impression of Chengdu. Yesterday afternoon, 28 diplomats attended Sichuan Seminar of the 10th Workshop for European Diplomats. Relevant officials from Sichuan Development and Reform Commission, Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce, Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Tourism, Management Commission of Tianfu New District, Dongfang Electric Corporation, Chengdu Municipal Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, EU Project Innovation Center (Chengdu) attended the seminar and introduced the cooperation situation between Sichuan and Europe.
After further learning the situation of Sichuan and the cooperation between Sichuan and Europe, diplomats also had a heated discussion concerning “One Belt and One Road”. “This is my first visit to Chengdu. I am quite surprised about everything I have seen. Besides, I also seek for many cooperation opportunities between us and Chengdu.” An female official from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria said. She also mentioned that she would share what she had seen and heard with local governments and business representatives to make them have a better understanding of Sichuan and Chengdu. A senior policy adviser from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dutch indicated that linked closely with “One Belt and One Road”, the Dutch was very willing to share excellent experience and cooperation opportunities with Chengdu in economic development, urban construction and so on.
Chengdu: In the eyes of European Diplomats
Secondary Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech: Looking forward to developing consulate work in Chengdu and promoting the opening of direct flight of Chengdu and Prague
This is the first time for this Secondary Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech to Chengdu, also a significant one for timing because the Consulate General of the Czech in Chengdu has been approved and he has decided to work here. “I am really looking forward to working in Chengdu. This is a beautiful city with cute giant pandas, delicious Sichuan cuisine, and Sichuan opera and face changing, on which I all have deep impression.”
When it comes to the work in the Consulate General, he also has some ideas. “I hope to promote the cooperation between universities in Sichuan and the Czech and jointly enhance innovation development and humanism exchange.” As for the trade, he also mentions that he is quite pleased to witness the continuous promotion of Chengdu-Europe Express Rail. “Chengdu-Europe Express Rail will bring about more better and deeper cooperation opportunities for Chengdu and the Czech and more countries will join in the cooperation between Chengdu and Europe.”
Moreover, he also mentions that the Czech is actively preparing the opening of direct flight from Chengdu to Prague. He support the opening and said that the flight would bring about much broader cooperation space under “One Belt and One Road” strategy.
An official from Asian-Pacific Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland: Hoping Chengdu could cooperate more with Lodz due to Chengdu-Europe Express Rail
"After seeing Chengdu-Europe Express Rail and Qingbaijiang Container Center, I am so proud of Sichuan to deepen cooperation and establish so solid a link with Poland because I come from Lodz.” An official from Asian-Pacific Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland said that Chengdu-Europe Express Rail, a representative program in “One Belt and One Road” strategy, was especially famous in Europe. “This rail will attract more enterprises from Poland even Eastern Europe to cooperate with Chengdu and invest in China.” He also wished to increase the rail number and enlarge capacity so as to further expand commercial and trade exchange between Chengdu and Europe.”
Moreover, he was also full of expectations with the friendship between Chengdu and Lodz, a sister city of Chengdu. “Although many people know China and Chengdu, they have limited knowledge about the culture, economy and so on. Therefore, I wish to strengthen mutual humanism exchange.”
Journalists’ reports : Chengdu in “One Belt and One Road” becomes an attraction
July 11th to 12th, the Mayor Delegates of Silicon Valley visited Chengdu, including 9 mayors and over 10 enterprise representatives, to seek for new cooperation opportunities of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Yesterday, European diplomats visited Chengdu. 28 diplomats from 26 European countries arrived in Chengdu to have a better understanding of Sichuan. The prospects of “One Belt and One Road” between Europe and Chengdu, Sichuan even Southwestern China become broader.
Today, 2015 Workshop for Civil Servants of Chengdu International Sister Cities will also begin. 28 civil servants from 19 international sister cities and friendship cities will attend the workshop to have a better understanding of Chengdu and deepen our friendship. The workshop aims to take advantage of international sister cities to share win-win solutions so that Chengdu could have a more close relationship with the world.
This busy July makes the international atmosphere of Chengdu intense. Apart from many delegates, Mr. Charles Xavier Luc Duval, deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and External Communications of Mauritius, and Mr. Bill English, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of New Zealand, also visited Chengdu. During their talks, they all indicated that Chengdu had play an unignorable role in the implementation of “One Belt and One Road” strategy. They would also enlarge exchanges and cooperation with Chengdu to seek for win-win solution.
"One Belt and One Road” is a national strategy with significant meaning. Taking this opportunity to improve herself, Chengdu has located herself in a precise position, fully played the function of hubs in technology, trade, financial center and transportation and communication, yield numerous achievements, and make the world focus on this pearl in Southwestern China.
Various international delegations have come to Chengdu, which is the actual action of the world to confirm the achievements of Chengdu in the process of building herself into a modern and international metropolis. They concentrate on the history and culture of Chengdu, ecological construction, and focus more on Chengdu’s economic development, innovation, entrepreneurship, opening and exchanges. They praise Chengdu-Europe Express Rail, this representative program of “One Belt and One Road” strategy and think highly of Chengdu due to its opening up.
Chengdu has harvested olive branches from the world. New Zealand hopes to expand technology and trade exchange with Chengdu. America wishes to initiate innovation and entrepreneurship communication with Chengdu. Mauritius looks forward to expand a much broader tourism market with Chengdu as the support.
Chengdu, an important location in “One Belt and One Road”, has attracted attention from the world. This city will embrace with more opportunities and show her own style.
Relevant NES
Increasing another 30 Sichuan enterprises to invest in countries along “One Belt and One Road” from January to June
Chengda Group has attract investment of 1 billion US dollars in the Indonesia Cilacap 1X1000MW Coal-Fired Power Station Project. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group has signed 380 million US dollars contract with Russia. Huaxi Energy Group signed 200 million US dollar contract with Pakistan. Reporters learned from Special Report Meeting of Sichuan Integrating into “One Belt and One Road” Construction that from January to June, Sichuan has increased another 30 enterprises to invest in countries along “One Belt and One Road’. The contract volume with these countries accounts for over 60%.
Significant increase in trade and investment between Sichuan and Countries along “One Belt and One Road” in the first 6 months
According to relevant officials from Sichuan Department of Commerce that in the first half year, the share of trade between Sichuan and countries along “One Belt and One Road” has improved from 29.5% to 30%. The share of 20 major countries of Sichuan increases 1.8 percentages. Sichuan has held over 30 trade promotion activities successfully, established 92 overseas marketing networks, covering 33 countries and regions. In the first half year, another 30 Sichuan enterprises also begin to invest in countries along “One Belt and One Road”. The contract volume with these countries accounts for over 60%. These countries also established 19 projects in Sichuan, increasing 18.8%.
Among the 25 major projects of introduction and going globally, the contract of Chengda Group with Indonesia is 1 billion US dollars, one of the first major projects since China issued Prospects and Actions of Promoting “One Belt and One Road” as well as the first major program since Sichuan initiated the implementation of “251 Three Year Action Plan. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group has signed 380 million US dollars contract with Russia. Huaxi Energy Group signed 200 million US dollar contract with Pakistan, 1.5 billion US dollars of understanding momentum with Punjab of Pakistan, as well as a contract worthy 265 million US dollars with Thailand. Honghua Group, taking advantage of “One Belt and One Road” strategy, exported 8 drillers of 164 million US dollars to Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Russia and so on, which had promoted the development of local petroleum industry and driven the selling and employment drillers and supporting products in Sichuan. Dayang Trade has exported 220 US dollars of stainless steel and chromium ore.
Sichuan will prepare to establish major service platforms including Promotion of One Belt and One Road
"One Belt and One Road is a significant decision of the Central Government as well as an important support of Sichuan to accelerate developing opening economy, ensuring to leading opening reform in the inland area in economic new situation.” Relevant officials fringe Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce indicated that according to the deployment of Sichuan Provincial Committee of the CPC and Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, they had drafted 251 Three Year Action Plan of One Belt and One Road Strategy released by the General Office of Sichuan Provincial People's Government. This plan aims to form demonstration and leading effete through multiple measures of financial supporting, policy incentives, promoting activities, and enhancing major projects so as to fully promote the trade and investment cooperation between Sichuan and countries along “One Belt and One Road”. Since 2015, within 3 years, Sichuan will select 20 national major projects to expand and nurture, choose 50 major programs from these introduction and going globally, tracing their development and enhance them. Sichuan will also select 100 enterprises with better investment and trade foundation with countries along “One Belt and One Road’, to lead them.
Next, Sichuan will focus on major enterprises, projects and cities to further perfect the top design of “251 Three Year Action Plan of One Belt and One Road Strategy”, research and release specific policies to support the construction of “One Belt and One Road”, construct the long-term cooperative mechanism with countries along “One Belt and One Road”, prepare to establish major service platforms including Promotion of One Belt and One Road, and continuously deepen the integration of Sichuan into “One Belt and One Road”.
