莫小阡
2015年,在羅馬尼亞舉行的首屆大使館節(jié)上,人們在中國展臺等待領取寫著自己中文名字的書法作品(新華社 供圖)
“國之交在于民相親,民相親在于心相通?!?013年,“絲綢之路經濟帶”和“21世紀海上絲綢之路”的提出,構建起新的歷史進程下延展的共同發(fā)展之路。幾年間,項目合作全面開花,在“一帶一路”沿線不斷落地落實,推動著互聯(lián)互通的完善,作為“一帶一路”建設人文基礎的民心相通領域,也交出了優(yōu)異的“成績單”。
從中共中央對外聯(lián)絡部當代世界研究中心聯(lián)合中國人民大學重陽金融研究院共同編寫的《“一帶一路”民心相通報告》中不難看出,民心相通建設成果,為“一帶一路”建設奠定了良好的民意基礎。
幾年來,中國同“一帶一路”建設參與國廣泛開展人文交流與合作,規(guī)劃實施了一大批品牌項目和活動;
中國政府每年向相關國家提供1萬個政府獎學金名額,地方政府也設立了絲綢之路專項獎學金,為沿線國家培養(yǎng)了大量行業(yè)領軍人才和優(yōu)秀技能人才;
中國與相關國家互辦文化年、旅游年、藝術節(jié)、電影節(jié)、電視周、圖書展等,推動各國展現(xiàn)各自民族特色,感受不同文化風采,增進相互了解認知;
另外,科技、教育、文化、衛(wèi)生、旅游、智庫、青年、城市、社會組織等各領域合作,不斷拓展交流寬度、增強交流深度……
一項項促進民心相通的交流融通離不開頂層設計的推動。
2016年,教育部牽頭制訂了《推進共建“一帶一路”教育行動》,旨在深化“一帶一路”沿線國家教育領域的合作,擴大人文交流,加強人才培養(yǎng)。為此,我國開展了“一帶一路”教育法律、政策協(xié)同研究,構建沿線各國教育政策信息交流通報機制,為沿線各國政府推進教育政策互通提供決策建議,為沿線各國學校和社會力量開展教育合作交流提供政策咨詢。積極簽署雙邊、多邊和次區(qū)域教育合作框架協(xié)議,制定沿線各國教育合作交流國際公約,逐步疏通教育合作交流政策性瓶頸,實現(xiàn)學分互認、學位互授聯(lián)授,協(xié)力推進教育共同體建設。
2017年,“一帶一路”暨“健康絲綢之路”高級別研討會在北京召開,會議對建設“健康絲綢之路”進一步規(guī)劃:成立“一帶一路”衛(wèi)生政策研究網絡,促進“一帶一路”沿線國家在重大傳染性疾病的監(jiān)測、防控和應對方面的協(xié)調和合作;開展對口醫(yī)院合作,通過“光明行”“微笑行”等短期義診及捐獻藥械等多種形式,向“一帶一路”國家提供衛(wèi)生援助;促進傳統(tǒng)醫(yī)藥政策、技術、研發(fā)和人員交流;鼓勵醫(yī)學科研機構間合作,在前沿醫(yī)學科技、重大疾病防治、疫苗研發(fā)、臨床研究等領域開展聯(lián)合研究和技術攻關;支持發(fā)展健康服務貿易、健康醫(yī)療旅游和養(yǎng)生保健,探討“一帶一路”國家相關藥械準入標準互認等合作。
另外,我國與“一帶一路”相關國家的文化交流與合作機制也日益完善。20T6年底,我國已經和“一帶一路”相關64個國家簽訂了政府間文化交流合作協(xié)定。文化部發(fā)布的《文化部“一帶一路”文化發(fā)展行動計劃(2016-2020年)》提出,要建成“一帶一路”文化交流合作機制,完善“一帶一路”文化交流合作平臺,打造“一帶一路”文化交流品牌,推動“一帶一路”文化產業(yè)繁榮發(fā)展,促進“一帶一路”文化貿易合作,為民心相通的實現(xiàn)提供強有力的支撐。
與此同時,我國還與“一帶一路”相關國家建立了各種區(qū)域性對話機制,如上海合作組織成員國文化部長會晤、中國—中東歐國家文化合作部長論壇、中阿文化部長論壇等。
在多種要素的共同著力下,民心相通的種子已經播撒到“一帶一路”沿線國家。
在廣泛開展人文交流與合作的同時,以教育促進文明互鑒,以智慧增進彼此了解也成為鞏固民心相通成果的重要領域。
近年來中國政府獎學金吸引力不斷提升,獎學金向周邊國家和“一帶一路”相關國家傾斜,成為國家戰(zhàn)略人才和人脈儲備的重要渠道。據(jù)教育部統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)顯示,2017年共有來自204個國家和地區(qū)的各類留學人員在全國31個省、自治區(qū)、直轄市的935所高等院校學習,其中碩士和博士研究生共計約7.58萬人,比2016年增加18.62%?!耙粠б宦贰毕嚓P國家留學生31.72萬人,占總人數(shù)的64.85%。另一方面,據(jù)不完全統(tǒng)計,中國科研機構和高等院校的“一帶一路”研究平臺達300家,參與“一帶一路”研究的外國知名智庫已有50多家。目前,中國智庫出版了400多本“一帶一路”相關圖書,國外知名智庫發(fā)表了100多份專題研究報告。
在出版、影視劇翻譯方面,我國已經與“一帶一路”相關「6個國家和地區(qū)簽訂了互譯出版協(xié)議,翻譯出版了近100種優(yōu)秀圖書,與15個國家簽訂了電影合拍協(xié)議,與一些國家簽訂了電視合拍協(xié)議。很多中國現(xiàn)象級影片正被翻譯成各國語言,在“一帶一路”沿線國家播放,通過這些影片,中國的形象也愈加立體起來。
近些年,隨著中國人民生活水平的日益增長,旅游的開支占比正成為國人收入支配的重要部分,而“一帶一路”相關旅游資源極其豐富,擁有近500項世界自然和文化遺產,成為國人旅游熱門地。截至2018年1月3日,持普通護照中國公民可以免簽、落地簽前往的國家和地區(qū),增加到67個。根據(jù)國家旅游局數(shù)據(jù)顯示,2017年全年中國公民出境旅游人數(shù)13051萬人次,比上年同期增長7.0%。中國已連續(xù)多年保持世界第一大出境旅游客源國地位。
往來之間,不同領域的民心相通為“一帶一路”的建設積累起了源源不斷的內生動力。企業(yè)自覺擔當
《“一帶一路”民心相通報告》中特別指出,中國企業(yè)在“走出去”過程中唱響“融”字主旋律,主動融入當?shù)厣鐣e極擔當起民心相通的責任。日前,在國務院國資委舉行的中央企業(yè)參與“一帶一路”建設媒體通氣會上,國資委副主任、黨委委員翁杰明也介紹道,“一帶一路”建設有效帶動了所在國當?shù)鼐蜆I(yè)。數(shù)據(jù)顯示,央企大力推進本土化經營,海外分支機構85%是本地員工,不少企業(yè)員工本地化率達到90%以上,中國石油印尼公司、中國移動巴基斯坦公司員工本地化率高達gg%。在直接提供就業(yè)崗位的同時,還間接帶動了十幾倍甚至幾十倍的當?shù)鼐蜆I(yè)。
企業(yè)在促進當?shù)亟洕l(fā)展的同時,嚴格遵守國際通行規(guī)則和當?shù)丨h(huán)保法律法規(guī),通過開展第三方環(huán)境評估、節(jié)能減排、廢棄物管理等,加大對環(huán)境的保護力度。積極履行社會責任,開展愛心公益活動,幫助解決當?shù)孛癖姷膶嶋H困難。隨著項目的落成,有些地區(qū)改變了落后的現(xiàn)狀,有的則改變了多年的生活習慣。
在老撾萬榮水電十四局項目部的辦公室里,一張張老撾萬象省萬榮縣村民質樸的笑臉在電腦屏幕上閃現(xiàn),這些村民終于用上自來水了。曾經,村里人喝的是渾濁的、微生物超標的水,現(xiàn)在,村里245戶人家,1225人,家家都用上了自來水,村上學校的師生也有了安全飲用水。萬榮縣副縣長為此專程來到項目部,給建設者們送上感謝信和一份沉甸甸的榮譽證書。
這只是因項目建設改變當?shù)噩F(xiàn)狀的一個縮影,中國交建僅在肯尼亞蒙內鐵路建設期間,就為當?shù)鼐用翊蛄?00多口深水井,贏得了肯尼亞民眾的認可;中國電建多次組織參與項目當?shù)氐缆沸迯?、沉船搜救、車禍處理等搶險救災行動;中冶集團在項目所在地出資建設醫(yī)院、學校,贏得了當?shù)厣鐣途用竦膹V泛贊譽……
? ? 由中企承建的塞爾維亞貝爾格萊德普平大橋
在“一帶一路”建設過程中,參與者們書寫了太多值得贊頌的友誼新篇章,描繪了太多民心相通的時代新畫卷。
中巴經濟走廊優(yōu)先實施項目之一的中興能源900兆光伏地面電站(本版圖片/新華社 供圖)
Chinese President Xi Jinping once said,“Friendship, which derives from close contactbetween the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.” In 2013, he proposed the initiative ofthe Silk Road Economic Belt and the 2lst-CenturyMaritime Silk Road, providing a way for comrmondevelopment on a new historical joumey. Within justa couple of years, comprehensive progress has beenmade in cooperative prOJects carried out under theBelt and Road Initiative, givrng a continuous boost toregional connectivity. At the same time, remarkableachievements have also been made in people-to-people bonds, the cultural cornerstone of advancingthe Belt and Road Initiative.Leveraging top-level design as a driving force
It is clear that achievements lJl promoting people-to-people bonds have laid a sound foundationof popular will for advancing the Belt and RoadInitiative, as revealed by the Report offPeople-to-People Bonds under the Belt and Road Initiative byChina Center for Contemporary World Studies of theIntemational Department. Central Committee of theCommunist Party of China and Chongyang Institutefor Financial Studies, Renmin University of China.
Over the past years, China has made a long list ofachievements in promoting people-to-people bonds:China together with other participants of the Beltand Road has conducted extensive people-to-peopleexchanges and cooperation and implemented a host ofbrand projects and activities;
The Chinese government offers 10,000government scholarships each year to students fromB&R countries and China's local governments havealso set up special Belt and Road scholarships whichhave helped these countries train industrial leaders andskillful talented people;
China and relevant countries have held cultureyears. tourism years, arts festivals. film festivals.TV weeks and book fairs in each other's countries so as to highlight respective national and culturalcharacteristics and enhance mutual understanding;
In addition. cooperation in technology, education,culture,health care,tourism, think tank, the youth, cityand social organizations continues to extend for widerand deeper exchanges……
These endeavors to promote people-to-peoplebonds cannot be in place without the impetus fromtop-level design.
In 2016, the Ministry of Education formulatedthe Education Action Plan for the Belt and RoadInitiative in a bid to deepen education cooperation,broaden people-to-people exchanges and strengthen talent training among B&R countries. To this end,China has carried out studies on how to coordinatedomestic laws and policies with education amongB&R countries and put in place an education policyinformation sharing mechanism for these countries inan effort to provide decision-making advice to relevantgovernments on keeping education policies alignedand to offer policy consultation to schools and socialactors in these countries on educational cooperationand exchanges; China has redoubled efforts to reachbilateral. multilateral and sub-regional frameworkagreements for educational cooperation, formulateinternational convention on educational cooperationand exchanges among B&R countries and steadilybreak policy-related bottlenecks in educationalcooperation and exchanges, seeking to establish morearrangements to have academic credits to be mutuallyrecognized and more dual and joint degrees conferred,with the prospect of working concertedly to build anintegrated educational community.
In 2017, the Belt and Road High-1evel Meetingfor Health Cooperation: towards a Health Silk Roadwas held in Beijing, at which a more elaborate planfor “Health Silk Road” was formulated, including:establishing the Belt and Road Health PolicyResearch Network to push forward coordinationand cooperation among B&R countries in themonitoring, prevention and control, and responseto major infectious diseases; providing health aidto B&R countries through hospital cooperation,short-term free treatment. including treatment ofcataract and cleft lip and palate, and donation ofmedicines and medical devices; promoting policies,technology, R&D and personnel exchanges in thefield of traditional medicine among B&R countries;encouragmg cooperation between medical researchinstitutions and carrying out joint researches to maketechnological breakthrough in the fields of advancedmedical technology, major disease prevention andcontrol. vaccme research and development andclinical research; supporting the development ofhealth services trade,1Iledical and health care tourismand health preservation and exploring the cooperationon B&R countries’mutual recognition on drugs anddevices access standards.
In addition. China has also seen improvements inthe cultural exchanges and cooperation mechanismswith relevant B&R countries. By late 2016, Chinahad signed intergovemmental agreements on culturalexchanges and cooperation with 64 B&R countries.According to the Ministry of Culture’s Action Planon Belt and Road Culyure Development (2016-2020), China should develop the Belt and Roadcultural exchanges and cooperation mechanism,optimize the Belt and Road cultural exchanges andcooperation platform build the Belt and Road culturalcommunication brand. boom the Belt and Roadcultural industry and promote the Belt and Roadcultural trade cooperation so as to provide strongsupport for realizing people-to-people bonds.
Meanwhile, China has also set up diverseregional dialogue mechanisms with relevant B&Rcountries,including the Cultural Ministers' Meetingof the Member States of the Shanghai CooperationOrganization, China-CEEC Cultural CooperationForum and Cultural Ministers' Forum of China andArab States.
Thanks to the combined effects of multiplefactors,the seeds of people-to-people bonds have beensowed in B&R countries.Making progress in multiple fronts
While carrying out extensive people-to-peopleexchanges and cooperation, China has also made alot of efforts in facilitating mutual leaming througheducation and mutual understanding throughknowledge among the peoples of B&R countries,yielding fruitful results in people-to-people bonds.
In recent years, Clrina has opened up an importantchannel to pool national strategic talents and establishconnections by providing increasingly attractivescholarships and offering more scholarships toneighboring countries and relevant B&R countries.Statistical data from the Ministry of Education of PRCshows that 935 domestic higher education institutionsin 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalitiesreceived students from 204 countries and regionsin 2017. They included 75,800 postgraduates, anincrease of 18.62% compared t0 2016. The numberof sffldents from B&R countries has reached 317,200,accounting for 64.85% of all intemational students inChina. According to data available, Chinese researchinstitutions and universities have established morethan 300 research platforms under the Belt and RoadInitiative and more than 50 well-known foreign thinktanks have joined the research. And by far over 400books and 100 research reports on the initiative havebeen published by Chinese think tanks and their foreign COUnterparts respectively.
In the field of publishing and film and televisiontranslation, China has signed cooperation agreementswith 16 countries and regions along the Belt andRoad with nearly 100 kinds of excellent works havingbeen translated and published. In addition, China hassigned co-production agreements of films with 15countries, as well as co-production agreements of TVdramas with a number of countries. Many Chinesebox-office blockbusters are being translated intovarious languages and released in B&R countries,displaying China more vividly.
With ever-improving living standards over thepast few years, Chinese people are spending a higherportion of their disposable incomes on tourism.Countries and regions along the Belt and Road withrich tourism resources including nearly 500 worldnatural and cultural heritage sites, have become hotdestinations for Chinese travelers. As of January 3,2018, Chinese citizens had visa-free or visa on arrivalaccess t0 67 countries and territories. According to theChina National Tourism Administration, the numberof outbound tourists in China reached 130.51 millionin 2017,up 7.0% over the previous year. China hasmaintained the status of the world's largest customercountries of outbound travel for many years.
Such frequent exchanges and broad efforts inimproving the people-to-people bonds between Chinaand other B&R countries have stimulated internalimpetus to push the Belt and Road ahead.Chinese enterprises vigorously shoulder socialresponsibilities
It is highlighted in the Report on People-to-People Bonds under the Belt and Road Initiativethat Chinese enterprises are focusing efforts on“integration” when they go global. They are takingthe initiative to integrate into the local society andtaking on the responsibility of promoting people-to-people bonds. The other day, Weng Jienung, memberof the CPC Committee and Vice Chairman of State-owned Assets Supervision and AdministrationCommission (SASAC), said at the Press Conferenceof Central SOEs Participating in the Development ofthe Belt and Road Initiative that the Belt and Roadhas effectively promoted local employment in B&Rcountries. Data shows that Chinese central SOEs havemade great efforts in achieving localization. Locallabors account for 85% of the employees at overseasbranches of Chinese central SOEs and even for ashigh as 90% in many cases. In PetroChina Indonesiaand China Mobile Pakistan, local labors accountfor gg%. In addition to providing job opportunitiesdirectly, these central SOEs also bring a huge boostfor those regions ' employment indirectly.
While driving local economic growth, Chineseenterprises also strictly abide by internationallyrecognized rules and local laws and regulationson environmental protection. and increase effortsto protect the environment through third-partyenvironmental impact assessment, energy conservationand emission reduction, waste management, etc.Theyactively shoulder their social responsibilities and carryout charity activities to help locals out of difficulties.With the completion of relevant projects, some areaswith backward economy have made progress, andsome people have changed their bad living habits thathad been ingrained for many years.
In the project office of Sinohydro Bureau 14 Co.,Ltd. in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, Laos, smilesof local villagers flash on the computer screen, as theyhave eventually ended the history of drinking turbidwater with excessive microbes and gained access totap water. A11 0f the l,225 people in 245 households,including teachers and students in the village schoolhave had access to tap water and safe drinking water.To extend their gratitude, Deputy County Mayor ofVang Vieng paid a special visit to the project office tosend letters of thanks and a certificate of honor.
This is merely an epitome of the impressivechanges brought about by Chinese enterprises to localcommunities when implementing projects under theBelt and Road and there are scores of other examples.For instance, China Communications ConstructionCompany drilled more than 100 deep-water wellsfor local residents when constructing the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Kenya, winning the recognitionof Kenyan people; POWERCHINA has organizedand participated in many local rescue and reliefworks such as road rehabilitation, sunken ship searchand rescue, and dealing with car accidents; ChinaMetallurgical Group Corporation has funded theconstruction of local hospitals and schools, which iswidely acclaimed by local communities.
In the process of advancing the Belt and RoadInitiative, participants have written countless newchapters of friendship and people-to-people bonds.