講好“重慶故事”和“中國(guó)故事”重慶：將友城工作提升到新的高度

講好“重慶故事”和“中國(guó)故事”重慶：將友城工作提升到新的高度

友城交流提高了重慶市對(duì)外開(kāi)放程度，推動(dòng)了重慶市與各國(guó)在經(jīng)濟(jì)、科技、文化、教育、衛(wèi)生、體育等領(lǐng)域的合作，在服務(wù)國(guó)家總體外交、服務(wù)全市經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)發(fā)展等方面發(fā)揮了重要作用，取得了積極成果。

友城數(shù)量是直轄時(shí)的5倍

重慶市國(guó)際友好城市（以下簡(jiǎn)稱“友城”）工作始于1982年，到直轄時(shí)共發(fā)展友城7對(duì)，直轄以后快速發(fā)展，截至目前，我市已與美國(guó)西雅圖、日本廣島等31個(gè)國(guó)家省州市建立了37對(duì)友好城市，總體數(shù)量大致是直轄時(shí)的5倍，尤其是近5年新增友城16對(duì)，大致占增加總量的一半。

在所有友好城市中，市級(jí)友城24對(duì)，區(qū)縣級(jí)友城13對(duì)。從地區(qū)分布看，亞洲地區(qū)9對(duì)，歐洲14對(duì)，北美洲6對(duì)，南美洲5對(duì)，大洋洲1對(duì)，非洲2對(duì)。同時(shí)，通過(guò)加強(qiáng)與國(guó)外地方政府合作交流，簽署友好合作關(guān)系協(xié)議，建立了友好交流城市65對(duì)。為有效利用我市友城資源，拓展與友城實(shí)質(zhì)性交流與合作，我市于2006年成立“重慶市友好城市工作委員會(huì)”，連續(xù)10年擬訂了市級(jí)友城交流合作推進(jìn)事項(xiàng)計(jì)劃，10年共執(zhí)行計(jì)劃748項(xiàng)。

講好“故事”，推動(dòng)合作

友城交流提高了重慶市對(duì)外開(kāi)放程度，推動(dòng)了重慶市與各國(guó)在經(jīng)濟(jì)、科技、文化、教育、衛(wèi)生、體育等領(lǐng)域的合作，在服務(wù)國(guó)家總體外交、服務(wù)全市經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)發(fā)展等方面發(fā)揮了重要作用，取得了積極成果。自2010年以來(lái)，重慶市在全國(guó)友城工作評(píng)選活動(dòng)中，連續(xù)3次榮獲“國(guó)際友好城市交流合作獎(jiǎng)”。

服務(wù)總體外交，提升工作層面。友城工作是國(guó)家總體外交的重要組成部分，必須服務(wù)于國(guó)家的總體外交。根據(jù)中共中央政治局委員、重慶市委書記孫政才“按照中央外交外事大政方針和要求，切實(shí)增強(qiáng)政治觀念和大局觀念”的指示，準(zhǔn)確把握國(guó)家的外交政策動(dòng)向，積極作為，主動(dòng)服務(wù)，既有力地配合了國(guó)家總體外交，又巧借國(guó)家資源提升重慶市友城工作層面。一是配合國(guó)家總體外交積極發(fā)展友城。如按照中央領(lǐng)導(dǎo)指示，重慶市開(kāi)展與英國(guó)威爾士“友城”交往；抓住我國(guó)與印度發(fā)展友好關(guān)系時(shí)機(jī)，促成與印度金奈市“結(jié)好”。二是根據(jù)國(guó)家要求，配合做好其他領(lǐng)域工作。如加強(qiáng)對(duì)華友好政要、人士往來(lái)和聯(lián)系，出席國(guó)際會(huì)議和活動(dòng)，增強(qiáng)我國(guó)在國(guó)際組織中的話語(yǔ)權(quán)等。三是積極融入國(guó)家層面交流合作機(jī)制，為地方政府合作搭建平臺(tái)。積極參與中美、中俄、中澳、中日、中法、中非、中印省州長(zhǎng)、中國(guó)—東盟國(guó)家省市長(zhǎng)對(duì)話會(huì)以及金磚國(guó)家地方政府合作論壇、對(duì)話會(huì)等機(jī)制建設(shè)。重慶市市長(zhǎng)黃奇帆帶團(tuán)出席了中美、首屆中澳省州長(zhǎng)論壇、中國(guó)—東盟國(guó)家省市長(zhǎng)對(duì)話會(huì)、首屆中印地方合作論壇等重要活動(dòng)，使重慶市友城工作進(jìn)一步融入國(guó)家雙邊、多邊合作機(jī)制，在中外合作交流高端平臺(tái)上有效開(kāi)展。

2016年5月，重慶市市長(zhǎng)黃奇帆（后排右二）與到訪的韓國(guó)仁川廣域市市長(zhǎng)劉正福（后排左二），簽署了進(jìn)一步加強(qiáng)友好合作備忘錄，共同見(jiàn)證了雙方多項(xiàng)經(jīng)貿(mào)協(xié)議簽訂。攝影：Noh,si-hoon

服務(wù)地方發(fā)展，突出務(wù)實(shí)成效。一是以友城為平臺(tái)加強(qiáng)高層互訪。助推渝新歐國(guó)際鐵路聯(lián)運(yùn)大通道建設(shè)，加快融入國(guó)家“一帶一路”戰(zhàn)略。2014年3月，在外交部大力支持下，習(xí)近平主席訪歐期間專程訪問(wèn)了重慶市友好交流城市德國(guó)北威州，出席“渝新歐”班列抵達(dá)杜伊斯堡儀式，擴(kuò)大了“渝新歐”的國(guó)際影響力。2014年、2015年，孫政才書記連續(xù)兩年率團(tuán)出訪中東歐地區(qū)，為擴(kuò)大重慶市向西開(kāi)放，深化對(duì)歐合作，加快重慶市融入國(guó)家“一帶一路”戰(zhàn)略實(shí)施發(fā)揮了巨大推動(dòng)作用。二是加快內(nèi)陸開(kāi)放高地建設(shè)，助推“五大功能區(qū)域”發(fā)展。推動(dòng)了兩江新區(qū)皮拉圖斯項(xiàng)目、奧特斯項(xiàng)目、瑞士產(chǎn)業(yè)園等項(xiàng)目實(shí)施；幫助重慶糧食集團(tuán)在友城巴西巴伊亞州注冊(cè)成立格林天地農(nóng)業(yè)有限公司，啟動(dòng)了總投資4.6億美元的優(yōu)質(zhì)大豆基地建設(shè)項(xiàng)目；協(xié)力推動(dòng)重慶化醫(yī)集團(tuán)、對(duì)外經(jīng)貿(mào)集團(tuán)、重慶力帆集團(tuán)等重慶企業(yè)走出去，實(shí)現(xiàn)對(duì)外投資3億多美元。三是突出經(jīng)貿(mào)項(xiàng)目，推動(dòng)友城合作。先后成功舉辦了重慶威爾士周、重慶—蘇黎世智慧城市論壇、重慶瑞士產(chǎn)業(yè)園招商推介洽談會(huì)等活動(dòng)；加強(qiáng)對(duì)重點(diǎn)企業(yè)、重點(diǎn)組織的跟蹤服務(wù)力度，促進(jìn)項(xiàng)目落戶，先后引進(jìn)美國(guó)西雅圖市羅賓斯文公司、美國(guó)微軟公司項(xiàng)目落戶重慶。2012年，促成墨西哥尼瑪克公司總投資9.49億元人民幣的汽車零部件生產(chǎn)基地項(xiàng)目正式入駐兩江新區(qū)。2014年，美國(guó)安博集團(tuán)全球董事長(zhǎng)何慕德先生來(lái)華出席第二屆全球CEO委員會(huì)圓桌峰會(huì)，邀其順訪重慶，促成該集團(tuán)總投資1.1億美元的綜合性物流園區(qū)項(xiàng)目落戶魚復(fù)工業(yè)園區(qū)。

增進(jìn)民間友誼，筑牢友城基礎(chǔ)。以友城為載體，全方位、多層次、寬領(lǐng)域地開(kāi)展民間友好工作。一是貫徹周邊外交的基本方針，做好亞洲鄰國(guó)友城交流。穩(wěn)妥開(kāi)展對(duì)日交流，連續(xù)舉辦了6屆中外棒球友誼賽，推動(dòng)對(duì)日青少年交流。積極擴(kuò)大與韓國(guó)友城交流，促成重慶南開(kāi)中學(xué)與韓國(guó)釜山洛東高中結(jié)成了友好學(xué)校，推動(dòng)重慶暨華中學(xué)與韓國(guó)釜山開(kāi)展青少年交流，承辦了“中國(guó)大學(xué)生韓國(guó)語(yǔ)演講大賽”總決賽。與印度、斯里蘭卡、尼泊爾等周邊國(guó)家友好組織簽訂合作交流協(xié)議，通過(guò)民間友好組織推動(dòng)友城工作。二是配合大國(guó)外交，加強(qiáng)與美歐俄等重點(diǎn)國(guó)家和地區(qū)友城交流。鞏固與歐洲地區(qū)友好交往關(guān)系，與英國(guó)威爾士地區(qū)連續(xù)舉辦了9屆“威爾士周”，促成雙方18對(duì)院校建立合作關(guān)系，人才交流達(dá)80人次。開(kāi)拓建立與俄羅斯莫斯科州，英國(guó)謝菲爾德市、牛津市等近20個(gè)州、市、自治共和國(guó)的友好交流關(guān)系。繼續(xù)保持與美大地區(qū)友城的交流與合作。與美國(guó)西雅圖市探討開(kāi)展老年醫(yī)療、養(yǎng)老方面的合作，與澳大利亞布里斯班市共同開(kāi)展2015年兩市結(jié)好10周年系列慶?；顒?dòng)，積極拓展重慶與南美洲的交流，與阿根廷布宜諾斯艾利斯省、圣達(dá)菲省、烏拉圭圣何塞省簽署一批友好交流城市備忘錄。

2015年1月，重慶友好城市德國(guó)杜塞爾多夫市的“杜塞爾多夫交響樂(lè)團(tuán)木管五重奏”樂(lè)隊(duì)為重慶市民帶來(lái)了德國(guó)古典管樂(lè)室內(nèi)音樂(lè)會(huì)。

舉辦重要活動(dòng)，增強(qiáng)對(duì)外影響。2002年、2005年重慶市分別舉辦了AAPP會(huì)議、亞太城市市長(zhǎng)峰會(huì)等重要國(guó)際會(huì)議，與會(huì)外國(guó)省市長(zhǎng)、議員、政要對(duì)重慶印象耳目一新。2011年11月至2012年4月，重慶市與國(guó)家住建部共同主辦了“第八屆中國(guó)（重慶）國(guó)際園林博覽會(huì)”，境外30個(gè)城市來(lái)渝參展，156名參展城市市長(zhǎng)代表團(tuán)來(lái)渝出席會(huì)議。2013年7月，重慶市與外交部聯(lián)合舉辦了中國(guó)—中東歐國(guó)家地方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人會(huì)議，羅馬尼亞總理蓬塔、馬其頓總理格魯埃夫斯基及中東歐地區(qū)16國(guó)政府機(jī)構(gòu)和56個(gè)州（省）市代表等1000余人與會(huì)，促成簽署雙邊合作協(xié)議25個(gè)，通過(guò)了《重慶倡議》，為中國(guó)—中東歐國(guó)家地方合作機(jī)制化建設(shè)奠定了堅(jiān)實(shí)基礎(chǔ)。2014年2月，重慶市召開(kāi)了“中俄兩河流域合作工作組第一次會(huì)議”，中國(guó)外交部、中國(guó)人民對(duì)外友好協(xié)會(huì)、俄羅斯外交部、俄羅斯總統(tǒng)駐伏爾加河沿岸聯(lián)邦區(qū)全權(quán)代表處、俄羅斯駐華使館、伏爾加河沿岸聯(lián)邦區(qū)14個(gè)聯(lián)邦主體等負(fù)責(zé)人200多人與會(huì)，為加快中俄非毗鄰地區(qū)合作、提升重慶市在中俄兩河流域合作機(jī)制建設(shè)中的地位和影響力發(fā)揮了重要作用。2015年5月，重慶市承辦亞歐互聯(lián)互通產(chǎn)業(yè)對(duì)話會(huì)，中共中央政治局常委、國(guó)務(wù)院副總理張高麗親臨會(huì)議開(kāi)幕式并作主旨演講，我國(guó)7個(gè)國(guó)家部委，24個(gè)省區(qū)市政府及柬埔寨副首相尹財(cái)利、斯洛伐克副總理卡日米爾和亞歐國(guó)家10位副部級(jí)官員等800余人齊聚一堂，共商合作、共謀發(fā)展，成果豐碩。

加強(qiáng)友城宣傳，促進(jìn)交流成效。一是編印宣傳資料，開(kāi)展友城合作宣傳。編印《重慶經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)發(fā)展簡(jiǎn)況及重點(diǎn)發(fā)展領(lǐng)域和產(chǎn)業(yè)》等系列宣傳冊(cè)，向重慶市近100個(gè)友城、“準(zhǔn)友城”進(jìn)行宣傳推薦。二是加強(qiáng)媒體報(bào)道，形成公共輿論導(dǎo)向。編寫友城宣傳新聞稿，人民網(wǎng)、中國(guó)商務(wù)部官網(wǎng)、香港鳳凰資訊等媒體紛紛報(bào)道，收到了良好的效果。三是通過(guò)中央電視臺(tái)大型紀(jì)錄片《新中國(guó)民間外交實(shí)錄》，對(duì)重慶市友城合作典型項(xiàng)目“比利時(shí)—巫溪馬鈴薯合作項(xiàng)目”進(jìn)行宣傳。四是通過(guò)市領(lǐng)導(dǎo)會(huì)見(jiàn)重要外賓等，提升友城宣傳效果。2014年12月，美國(guó)州政府理事會(huì)代表團(tuán)訪渝，重慶市人大常委會(huì)主任張軒向客人介紹了重慶市經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)、法制建設(shè)等方面成就，展示了重慶在產(chǎn)業(yè)發(fā)展和國(guó)家戰(zhàn)略中的實(shí)力，同時(shí)，在回應(yīng)客人感興趣的交通、經(jīng)貿(mào)、文化等話題時(shí)，巧妙提出“中美之間，相互學(xué)習(xí)、相互合作，對(duì)雙方都有益”的觀點(diǎn)，客人非常贊同，表示回去要宣傳重慶，與重慶展開(kāi)經(jīng)貿(mào)、科技等多領(lǐng)域合作。這些都在看似禮節(jié)性會(huì)見(jiàn)中很好地宣傳了重慶，講好了“重慶故事”，由點(diǎn)及面地講好了“西部故事”和“中國(guó)故事”，體現(xiàn)出了理論自信、道路自信和制度自信，又將友城宣傳提升到了新的高度。

2015年10月，在重慶舉辦的友好城市英國(guó)威爾士當(dāng)代藝術(shù)展。

（重慶市人民對(duì)外友好協(xié)會(huì)供稿）

The exchanges with its “ISC” members elevated Chongqing’ s opening up to the outside world to a new level,which boosted Chongqing’ s cooperation with other countries in economy, education, health care, sports and other fi elds. The cooperation had played a signifi cant role in achieving positive outcomes when serving state's overall diplomacy and Chongqing’ s economic and social development.

General situation of Chongqing’ s sister cities: Quintupling the number when it became the municipality

Chongqing’ s working to establish ties with its International Sister Cities (referred hereafter as“ISC”) began at 1982, and had built 7 pairs of sister cities when it became a municipality. After becoming the municipality, Chongqing developed fast, and had so far established 37 “ISC” ties with cities in 31 countries, provinces, states and cities including Seattle and Hiroshima, which quintuples the number when it became the municipality. Notably, over the past 5 years, Chongqing had newly established “ISC”ties with 16 cities , accounting for around half of the increased number.

Of all these “ISC”, Chongqing has 24 “ISC”members at municipal level, and 13 “ISC” members at district or county level. In terms of regional distribution, Chongqing has 9 “ISC” members in Asia, 14 “ISC” members in Europe, 6 “ISC”members in North America, 5 “ISC” members in South America, 1 “ISC” member in Oceania, and 2 “ISC” members in Africa. At the same time, Chongqing has established friendly ties with 65 cities by strengthening cooperation and exchanges and signing friendly cooperation agreement with foreign local governments. Established in 2006, “Chongqing International Sisters Cities Working committee” had drafted a ten-year cooperation and exchanges promotion project with its municipal “ISC”, aiming to effectively use its “ISC” resources, and to expand substantive cooperation and exchanges. In this project, 748 items have been implemented over the past 10 years.

Chongqing’ s works with its International Sisters cities:

To tell “A story” well, and to promote cooperation.

The exchanges with its “ISC” members elevated Chongqing’ s opening up to the outside world to a new level,which boosted Chongqing’ s cooperation with other countries in economy, education, health care, sports and other fields. The cooperation had played a significant role in achieving positive outcomes when serving state's overall diplomacy and Chongqing’ s economic and social development. Chongqing had been consecutively awarded for three times the “International Sister Cities Exchanges and Cooperation Award” in the National Sister Cities Works Competition Since 2010.

On 29th April. 2016, China-France Cultural Spring at Chongqing’s opening ceremony on Nanbin Road. Photograph by Luo Jie.

Serving overall diplomacy, and improving working level. International Sister Cities works belong to and should be subject to state’s overall diplomacy. According serve to the instruction of Sun Zhengcai, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee -“To effectively enhance the political and overall concept in accordance with the foreign affairs guidelines and requirements of the central government”, Chongqing had, one the one hand, accurately grasped the state's foreign policy trend, made active efforts and provided services to have adhered to state’s overall policy; and,on the other hand, had make full use of national resources to have improved working level with its “ISC” members. First is to develop its “ISC” members in accordance with state’s overall policy. According to the instruction of the central government, Chongqing had built a sister city tie with Welsh; As China is developing a rapport with India, Chongqing is making efforts to build friendly tie with Chennai. Second is to coordinate a works in other fi elds in accordance with the requirements of the central government. Works such as strengthening contacts with those politicians and government officials who are friendly to China, attending international conferences and activities and enhancing China’s voice in international organization are included. Third is to make efforts to adapt to the exchanges and cooperation mechanisms at national level and to establish a platform for cooperating with foreign local governments by actively participating in China’s mechanisms construction of cooperation forum and dialogue with provincial or state governors from America, Russia, Australia, Japan, France, Africa, India, ASEAN countries and local governments of BRICS members. Huang Qifan, mayor of Chongqing, and his group had attended the China-US Provincial Governors Dialogue, the first China-Australia Provincial Governors Forum, China- ASEAN Countries Provincial Dialogue, the fi rst China-India Local Cooperation Forum and other events, making Chongqing’ s efforts to adapt its “ISC”works to national bilateral or multilateral cooperation mechanisms based on the high-end China-foreign exchanges and cooperation platform become effective.

Serving local economic and social development, highlighting real effect.First, Chongqing had enhanced high-level visits with its “ISC” members. Chongqing has been seeking to boost the construction of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway and accelerating the adaption to “One Belt, One Road” initiative issued by the central government. In March, 2014, with the help of Foreign Ministry, the infl uence of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway was expanded as General Secretary Xi Jinping had a special visit to Chongqing’ s “ISC”member NRW German and attending Train -Arrivingin-Duisburg Ceremony of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway during his trip to Europe. In the years of 2014 and 2015, Sun Zhengcai, and his group had consecutively visited Central and Eastern Europe, which had played a signifi cant role in further opening-up and cooperation to Eastern-European countries as well as in Chongqing’ s adaption to“One Belt, One Road” initiative issued by the central government. Second, Chongqing had accelerated inland opening-up construction to promoted the development of “Chongqing Five Functional Areas”. Hence, Chongqing had promoted the implementation of Pilatus Project, AT&S Project, Swiss Industrial Park Project and other project in LiangJiang NewArea; Chongqing had helped Chongqing Grain Group launch a $460 million invested High-Quality Soybean Base Construction Project after its incorporation as“Green Universe Agribusiness Co., Ltd.” in one of Chongqing’ s “ISC” members Bahia State. At the same time, Chongqing Chemical&Pharmaceutical Holding(group) Company, Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (Group) Co.,Ltd., Chongqing Lifan Holdings Co., Ltd. and other companies had been helped to achieve over $300 million of overseas investments. Third, Chongqing had highlighted Trade and economic cooperation projects to boost cooperation with its “ISC” members. Events such as Chongqing Welsh Week, Chongqing-Zurich Smart City Forum and Chongqing Swiss Industrial Park Investment Trade Fair were successively held in Chongqing; To strengthen the quality of follow-up services for key enterprises and organizations, and to promote settlement of projects, projects from Seattle Robins company and Microsoft had been introduced to Chongqing by the local government. LiangJiang New Area formally introduced a ￥949 million total investment project called Auto Parts Production Base Project from Nemak Company, Mexico in 2012. In 2014, America AMB Prologis Group’ s worldwide chairman Hamid Moghadam was invited to Chongqing during his trip to attend the 2nd Round Table of Global CEO Council, which had resulted in a ＄110 million invested generalized logistics parks project settled in Yu Fu Industrial Park.

In May 2016, Liu Zhengfu (the 3rd on the right), Mayor of Inchon city, Seoul Korea, was attending Chongqing-Inchon tourism introduction meeting. Photograph by Luo Jie.

Enhancing people-to-people friendship, building a firm foundation with “ISC” members.Based on its “ISC” resources, Chongqing had worked to improve relations with its “ISC” members in an omnidirectional , multilevel and wide range. First, to uphold the basic policy of China's peripheral diplomacy, Chongqing had worked to communicate with its “ISC”members in Asia. To keep a steady communication with Japan, 6 baseball friendship matches had been consecutively held to promote youth exchanges with its “ISC” members in Japan. To expand exchange works with its Korean “ISC” members, Chongqing had helped build a sister school tie between Chongqing NanKai Middle School and Busan Nakdong Senior High School. At the same time, the finals of “Korean Speech Contest for Chinese College Students” was held and youth exchanges works were promoted between Chongqing JiHua Middle School and its Busan counterparts. A series of cooperation agreements had been signed with nongovernmental friendship organizations from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other neighboring countries to promote Chongqing’ s “ISC” works. Second, to follow the great power diplomatic strategy of central government, Chongqing had enhanced exchanges with its “ISC” members in America, Europe,Russia and other priority countries. To sustain friendly contacts with its European “ISC” member, Chongqing had consecutively held 9 Welsh Weeks with its Welsh counterparts, built partnership with 18 colleges or universities and held 80 meetings for talent exchanges. Friendly exchange relationship was established by Chongqing and its 20 counterparts from Moscow Oblast, Sheffi eld, Oxford city and other states, cities and autonomous republics. We had continued to maintain cooperation with American large districts. We had discussed the cooperation in gerontology and pension system, and had jointly celebrated the 10th anniversary of building sisterties with Australia Brisbane. A series of memorandums were signed to boost exchanges by Chongqing and its South American counterparts Buenos Aires Province, Santa Fe Province in Argentina and San Jose Province in Uruguay.

Organizing important events to strengthen infl uence abroad.2002 AAPP conference, 2005 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and other important meetingswere held respectively in Chongqing making Chongqing more refreshing to those foreign local governors and politicians. From November 2011 to April 2012, Chongqing had jointly held “The 8th China(Chongqing)International Garden EXPO”with Housing Construction Department, which had attracted 156 mayor delegate groups from 30 overseas cities to participate in. The Meeting of China-CEEC Leaders was jointly held in July 2013 by Chongqing and Foreign Ministry. Over 1000 delegates including Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevskiand and 16 government institutes from 56 states (provinces) and 16 Eastern-European countries respectively attended this meeting, which had resulted in the accomplishment of 25 bilateral cooperation agreements and passed “Chongqing Initiative”, laying a solid foundation for the mechanism construction of China-CEEC’ s cooperation. In February 2014, China-Russia Cooperation Working Group Meeting was held in Chongqing, and over 200 heads from 14 federation subjects including Chinese Foreign Ministry, CPAFFC, Russian Foreign Ministry, Full Representative offi ce of Russia President along Volga River Federal District, Russia Embassy and Volga River Federal District attended this meeting, which played a signifi cant role in accelerating cooperation in China-Russia nonadjacent areas as well as in enhancing Chongqing’s status and infl uence in mechanism construction of cooperation between regions on the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River and their counterparts along Russia's Volga River. Zhang Gaoli, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council delivered a keynote speech at the ASEM Industrial Dialogue on Connectivity Ceremony undertook by Chongqing in May 2015. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly, Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Cage Mir and 10 deputy ministerial officials from Asian and European countries along with offi cials from 7 Chinese national ministries, 24 provincial governments totaled over 800 people attended this meeting to seek cooperation and development, and had achieved fruitful results.

Enhancing the propaganda of Sister cities and promoting the effects of practical exchanges. The first is to conduct cooperation propagation with sister cities through the compilation and printing of publicity materials. A series of brochures, for example,“Economic and Social Development of Chongqing as well as the Key Development Areas and Industries”are issued to promote and recommend Chongqing to nearly 100 friendship cities and potential friendship cities. The second is to form a guidance of public opinion through the enhancement of media reports. Press releases about the propaganda for Chongqing are compiled and have received good results through the reports of media such as “People.cn”, “Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China”,“News.ifeng.com” in Hong Kong, etc. The third is to propagate Chongqing’s typical cooperation project with its sister cities, namely, “Belgium - WuXi potato cooperation project”, through the full-length CCTV documentary “Veritable Records of Folks Diplomacy in New China ”. The fourth is to improve the publicity effect of sister cities through municipal leaders’meeting with foreign guests, etc. December 2014, the delegation of Counsel of State Government visited Chongqing. Zhang Xuan, director of Chongqing People’s Congress Standing Committee, introduced Chongqing’s achievements in economic and social development, the legal system construction, etc. to the guest, which demonstrated Chongqing’s power in industrial development and national strategy. Besides, in response to the topics that the guests were interested in such as traffi c, trade, culture, etc. he put forward tactfully the idea of “ It is benefi cial to both sides for China and the United States to learn from each other and cooperate with each other .”The guests strongly agreed to this idea and they said that they would publicize Chongqing after going back to their country. Moreover, they unveiled the vision of cooperating with Chongqing in such fields as economy, trade, science and technology. All these aspects made Chongqing widely publicized, the stories of Chongqing well told, and the stories of the western region and China presented from a point to a surface, which refl ected the very confi dence in our path, in our theories and in our system. Meanwhile, the propaganda of sister cities was promoted to a new height.

(Provided by Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’ s Government)

To tell the “Chongqing story” and the “China story” well Chongqing:Promoting its works with sister cities to a new level