李卉嬪
"I'm a big fan of Chengdu"
——Exclusive interview with Mr.Ran Peleg, Consul General of lsrael in Chengdu
隨著“一帶一路”倡議的不斷推進(jìn),中國(guó)和以色列兩國(guó)近年經(jīng)貿(mào)關(guān)系發(fā)展迅猛,科技創(chuàng)新交流日益升溫。2017年,中國(guó)、以色列雙邊貿(mào)易額超過130億美元,中國(guó)是以色列在亞洲的第一大貿(mào)易伙伴和在全球的第三大貿(mào)易伙伴。以色列總理內(nèi)塔尼亞胡曾表示,“中國(guó)和以色列是天作之合,中國(guó)的能力、遠(yuǎn)見與以色列的技術(shù)、創(chuàng)新可以很好地結(jié)合在一起?!?018年5月,中以已啟動(dòng)第四輪自貿(mào)區(qū)談判,自貿(mào)區(qū)建成后,將可能使雙方現(xiàn)有的貿(mào)易額翻一番。
同時(shí),中國(guó)西南地區(qū)與以色列的合作也在不斷拓展。2018年10月,新任以色列駐成都總領(lǐng)事潘立文走馬上任,曾任職以色列駐華大使館新聞發(fā)言人的他在推動(dòng)中以合作交流方面經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富,對(duì)于持續(xù)深化兩國(guó)合作他有哪些見解?對(duì)與中國(guó)西南地區(qū)的合作又有哪些規(guī)劃?本刊記者為此專訪了潘立文。
急著:中以兩國(guó)當(dāng)前合作的重點(diǎn)是什么?
潘立文:以創(chuàng)新為基礎(chǔ)的合作是以中合作的重要方向。過去十年,我一直都在為推動(dòng)以中合作交流而努力,我見證了兩國(guó)間的很多創(chuàng)新合作項(xiàng)目,以創(chuàng)新為驅(qū)動(dòng)力的雙方關(guān)系正處于最好的歷史機(jī)遇期。我們創(chuàng)新方面的優(yōu)勢(shì),正符合中國(guó)當(dāng)前經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展的需求。很多中國(guó)企業(yè)已經(jīng)開始投資以色列,在我們國(guó)家設(shè)立研發(fā)中心。如今,以色列1/4的投資來自中國(guó),創(chuàng)新合作正以更多形式在兩國(guó)之間展開。相信未來兩國(guó)在這一領(lǐng)域還有更多探索的空間。
2017年,兩國(guó)正式建立“創(chuàng)新全面伙伴關(guān)系”。2018年10月24日,在中以創(chuàng)新合作聯(lián)合委員會(huì)第四次會(huì)議上,中國(guó)國(guó)家副主席王岐山與以色列總理內(nèi)塔尼亞胡共同簽署了《中以創(chuàng)新合作行動(dòng)計(jì)劃(2018-2021)》,其包括醫(yī)療健康、科技、教育等領(lǐng)域的合作意向。這是2015年兩國(guó)創(chuàng)新合作計(jì)劃的升級(jí),創(chuàng)新合作已經(jīng)邁上了新臺(tái)階。
記者:在您擔(dān)任駐成都總領(lǐng)事的未來幾年內(nèi),與包括四川在內(nèi)的西南地區(qū)將有哪些合作計(jì)劃?
潘立文:從開設(shè)以色列駐成都總領(lǐng)事館以來,四川與以色列已經(jīng)開展了多方面的合作。接下來,推動(dòng)與西南地區(qū)在創(chuàng)新領(lǐng)域的合作,探索雙方在農(nóng)業(yè)、水、衛(wèi)生和教育等方面需求的匹配之處,促成更多的合作項(xiàng)目,是我任期內(nèi)的主要目標(biāo)。其中,數(shù)字醫(yī)療、新型教育等高科技領(lǐng)域是我們的優(yōu)勢(shì)之一,我希望把這些優(yōu)勢(shì)帶到西南地區(qū),提高當(dāng)?shù)厝嗣竦纳钯|(zhì)量。教育方面,我們希望通過搭建數(shù)字教育、遠(yuǎn)程教育平臺(tái),幫助西部偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)發(fā)展教育。
關(guān)于數(shù)字醫(yī)療方面,2018年兩國(guó)衛(wèi)生部門簽署了數(shù)字醫(yī)療合作計(jì)劃。前不久,以色列與四川衛(wèi)健委簽署了醫(yī)療合作協(xié)議,2019年有兩場(chǎng)醫(yī)療研討會(huì)在中國(guó)召開,兩國(guó)闖將有更多的醫(yī)療培訓(xùn)合作。包括“醫(yī)療小丑”等計(jì)劃,借助幽默的力量,運(yùn)用心靈療法,幫助患者更好地戰(zhàn)勝疾病。
記者:能否與我們分享一下您與四川的緣分以及對(duì)成都的印象?
潘立文:可以說,我是成都的忠實(shí)粉絲。2006年,我以背包客的身份和女朋友(現(xiàn)妻子)第一次來四川旅游,騎著摩托車環(huán)游,去了理塘、亞丁、康定,最后到了成都,在這里我品嘗了各種美食。在一家川菜館中,我向女朋友求了婚。之后在北京以色列駐華大使館工作期間,我又未了成都好多次。每次來都有驚喜。這里宜人的氣候、美麗的景色、多樣的美食、深厚的人文、人民積極向上的生活態(tài)度及熱情好客的品質(zhì)都讓我著迷?,F(xiàn)在,我再次來到這里,不再是游客,而是一個(gè)成都居民,我將和我的家人在這里生活好幾年。如今,我已經(jīng)是4個(gè)孩子的父親,其中一個(gè)2019年即將出生。對(duì)未來在成都的工作生活,我都充滿了期待。
說起成都美食,我特別喜歡川菜,越辣越好,麻婆豆腐、火鍋、回鍋肉等等,都是我的最愛。當(dāng)然,成都的快速發(fā)展更讓我驚喜,在我看來,這里的發(fā)展速度比北上廣還要陜。
很多中國(guó)企業(yè)已經(jīng)開始投資以色列,在我們國(guó)家設(shè)立研發(fā)中心。如今,以色列l(wèi)/4的投資來自中國(guó)。
As China keeps making progressin the Belt and Road Initiative,trade ties between China and Israel aresoaring in recent years and exchanges intechnological innovation keep increasing.In 2017, China-Israel bilateral tradevolume exceeded USD 13 billion. Chinahas become the largest trade partner ofIsrael in Asia and the third largest tradepartner in the world. Benjamin Netanyahu,Prime Minister of lsrael, noted that "traderelation between Israel and China is amarriage made in heaven. China's strengthand foresight and Israel's proven abilityto be at the cutting edge of technologicalinnovation can combine together and leadto great results." Since May 2018, Chinaand Israel have launched the fourth roundof negotiation on free trade zone. Whenthe zone is completed, it can double thetrade volume between the two countries.
In addition, the cooperation betweenChina's southwest region and Israel alsokeeps expanding. In October 2018, RanPeleg, new Consul General of Israel inChengdu, came into office. As a formerspokesman, Embassy of lsrael in Beijing,Ran Peleg has a lot of experience inChina-Israel cooperation and exchanges.So what does he think about the deepeningbilateral cooperation and what is he goingto do about cooperation with China'ssouthwest region? Here is the interviewwith him.
Recporter:What is the top topic inChina-Israel cooperation?
Ran Peleg: Cooperation based oninnovation is the important directionbetween China and Israel. Over the pastdecade, I have endeavored to promotecooperation and communications betweenChina and Israel, during which I witnessedthat many innovation cooperation projectswere established. Now bilateral relationdriven by innovation is facing the besthistorical opportunity. Israel's advantagein innovation is in line with the needof China's economy. Many Chineseenterprises began to invest investing inIsrael and establish R&D centers here.Currently, one quarter of investment inIsrael comes from China, and innovativecooperation between the two countries isbecoming more diversified. I believe thatthere will be more space to explore in thiscooperation field in the future.
In 2017, the China-Israel innovativecomprehensive partnership wasestablished. On 24 0ctober 2018, ChineseVice President Wang Qishan and IsraeliPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuattended the fourth meeting of China-Israel Joint Committee on InnovationCooperation and signed an action planfor China-Israel Innovation Cooperationfrom 2018 t0 2021, including cooperationintention in health care, technology,education etc. It is an upgrading inbilateral innovation cooperation since2015, ushering it into a new era."cooperation will be carried out inmany fields, such as agriculture andhealth care"
Reporter: In the next few years, whatare you going To do during your tenureabout the
Ran Peleg: Since the consulate generalof lsrael in Chengdu was set up, Sichuanand Israel have carried out cooperationin many fields. In the next few years, theprimary goal during my tenure is to boostinnovation cooperation with the southwestregion, including synergy in agriculture,water resource, sanitation and education,and facilitate more cooperation projects.Among the cooperation, digital healthcare and new education in hi-tech field arewhat we are strong at, so I hope to bringthese advantages to the southwest region,in order to improve the quality of life oflocals. In education field, we wish to helpdevelop education in some remote areasin the west by establishing digital anddistance education platforms.
As for digital health, in 2018, theministries of health in the two countriessigned collaboration agreements in thefield of digital health care. Recently,Israel and Health Commission of SichuanProvince signed healthcare agreement.In 2019, China will hold two healthcareseminars and the two countries willembrace more medical and trainingcooperation, including the Medical Clownwhich aims to assist patients to copewith illness through humor and mentaltreatment.
Reporter: Could you share the storybetween you and Sichuan and yourimpression on Chengdn?
Ran Peleg: I have to say I'm a bigfan of Chengdu. In 2006, I, togetherwith my girlfriend (now my wife),made a backpack tour in Sichuan. Thatwas the first time we came here, duringwhich we took a motorbike and wentto several places in Sichuan, such asLitang, Yading and Kangding, and finallyarrived in Chengdu where I sampledvarious delicious food. And in a Sichuanrestaurant, I proposed to my girlfriend.Later, I revisited Chengdu for many timeswhen I worked at Embassy oflsrael inBeijing. Every time it impressed me a lot.I feel enchanted with the pleasant climate,gorgeous scenery, various cuisine, andprofound culture in Chengdu, as wellas Chengdu people's positive attitudestowards life and their hospitality. Now, Icame here again, but not as a tourist, sinceI will settle and live here with my familyfor the next few years. So far, I have fourchildren and one is about to be born in2019. I'm looking forward to future workand life in Chengdu.
Speaking of Chengdu cuisine, I haveto say, I love Sichuan cuisine very much,and the spicier it tastes, the more I enjoyit. Mapo tofu, hotpot, twice cooked porkslices, to name a few, are all my favoritedishes. Certainly, what surprises me mostshould be Chengdu's fast development.For me, it grows even faster than Beijing,Shanghai and Guangzhou.