论文部分内容阅读
宁波天一阁的档案室里,至今珍藏着一本《来自中东欧的问候》。
2018年9月,25位中东欧作家受邀赴天一阁参加文学交流活动,在临别留言中,塞尔维亚作家沃基斯拉 · 夫卡哈诺维奇这样写道:“书本可以穿越时空,让我们的灵魂与先贤们相连。书藏古今的天一阁就是这样一个‘时空隧道’。这次与宁波的邂逅也将深深刻进我的灵魂。”
在这一关于中东欧的“专属记忆”中,类似的真情告白不胜枚举……
这是中国—中东欧国家合作机制建立十余年来双方共同把握发展机遇又一成果。随着新一届的中国—中东欧国家博览会在宁波的召开,一幅中国—中东欧国家人文交流的宏伟画卷在东海之滨再度徐徐铺开。
黄金“甬”道
从地理上看,中东欧北起波罗的海,南至地中海,是连接西欧和北欧的重要中转站,大多数中东欧国家也是首批承认新中国的国家,与中国有着深厚的传统友谊。而宁波则成为中国与中东欧国家的黄金“甬”道,承担起了深化双方友谊的“国家使命”。
2020年2月出台的《关于建设宁波中国—中东欧国家经贸合作示范区的总体方案》提出,努力把示范区建设成为推动“一带一路”倡议并对接欧洲经济圈的新通道、承载中国—中东欧经贸合作举措的新平台、地方探索国际合作制度创新的新高地。
此后,众多合作项目在宁波落地。最为人津津乐道的是,美诺华药业联手斯洛文尼亚最大的制药公司(Krka)在宁波成立合资公司。Krka公司具有技术、产品、欧洲市场的优势,而跟宁波的合作则可以帮助他们打开中国市场,让更多优质药品进入中国。
除了产业、市场可以优势互补外,人才交流同样是宁波打造中国—中东欧“黄金通道”的核心抓手。宁波北仑充分发挥海外工程师协同创新中心这一人才优势,聚焦智能制造、高端模具、新材料等领域,全力推进全国首个“国家引进国外智力示范区”建设,把中东欧人才引进融入“国家使命”。
与此同时,北仑还充分用好自贸区平台和政策,加快建设中东欧贸易物流园,推动进口保税仓、跨境电商综合服务平台、出口监管仓等成果释放最大效用,以更灵活的海关监管、更优化的港口服务、更多元的贸易方式进一步打通贸易链条,力争进口更多中东欧国家特色产品。
作为全国唯一的“17+1”经贸合作示范区,宁波正在成为中国和中东欧产业对接、经贸合作的“桥头堡”。一年前,宁波中东欧创新基地、中东欧国际产业合作园在余姚揭牌,彼时栽下的“梧桐树”,终于引来了“金凤凰”。
世界领先的防反射玻璃制造商拉脱维亚企业Groglass也向宁波伸出合作的橄榄枝。它的产品应用于许多全球知名的博物馆展柜、画框玻璃、豪华建筑,希望能通过宁波举办的线上对接会,找到中国的合作伙伴。
截至2020年年底,中东欧国家在宁波实际投资累计达5.63亿美元,宁波在中东欧国家实际投资累计达9.88亿美元,双边投资总量位居全国同类城市前列。
好物走进千家万户
口感醇厚的波兰妙可牛奶、芬芳馥郁的保加利亚玫瑰水、浪漫剔透的捷克水晶……宁波的朋友,对这些中东欧进口商品并不陌生。随着宁波进入“中东欧时间”,各种进口商品源源不断地进入国内。
走进宁波前湾综合保税区跨境电商展示中心,波兰产乳制品、捷克和匈牙利产乐高玩具、罗马尼亚产咖啡机……琳琅满目的中东欧商品映入眼帘。“这些进口商品在我们电商平台上卖得特别好。”宁波立得购电子商务科技有限公司跨境电商业务负责人说,今年前4个月,公司的中东欧进口额同比增长超过150%。
回眸宁波与中东欧国家的贸易往来,一连串喜人的数字映入眼帘。今年1~4月,宁波对中东欧17国进出口119.6亿元,同比增长48.8%,其中进口增幅更是达到史无前例的241.2%。精致而实用的中东欧商品,正在不断借道宁波,走遍全国的大街小巷。
“我们大学一毕业就开始做波兰的进出口生意,2014年听说宁波有中东欧国家特色商品展,就慕名来到这里。正好乘政策的东风,业务越做越红火,每年能进口上万件波兰头盔。”说起结缘宁波的经历,宁波柯维贸易有限公司负责人黄咚咚不禁打开了话匣子。
黄咚咚相中的明星产品,来自全球一线安防企业KZPT公司。它不仅能抵御烈火的考验,还能抵挡重物的冲击。如今,江苏省90%以上的消防员,正是使用这款从宁波进口的波兰头盔,在火灾险情中可以增强自我保护的防御力。
更为市民耳熟能详的,莫过于波兰牛奶、塞尔维亚婴儿米粉、罗马尼亚无花果可可酱……这些挑动味蕾的“人间美味”,無论是在宁波各大商超,还是在知名电商平台,“出镜率”都在成倍提高。
宁波还拥有全国覆盖最全、品类最丰富的中东欧商品贸易促进平台——中东欧国家特色商品常年展。它在全国设立了36家中东欧特色商品直销中心,并与中东欧贸易物流园基地形成“前店后仓”的格局,让好物美食走进千家万户。
进口火热,出口稳健。今年年初以来,慈溪民营企业借“一带一路”东风,加快“走出去”步伐,“掘金”中东欧市场渐入佳境。今年前4个月,慈溪(含杭州湾新区)与中东欧国家贸易额突破13亿元,呈现良好增长态势。其中,进口额1.24亿元,增长48.93%;出口额12.06亿元,增长20.36%。
宁波嘉乐智能科技股份有限公司加快新产品开发,提升核心竞争力。今年前4个月,该公司出口匈牙利、捷克的空气炸锅总量同比增长近3倍。“作为全球最大的空气炸锅‘ODM生产基地’,我们公司每年研发费用超过4000万元,出口产品全部通过第三方检测机构认证。客户对产品质量认可度高,订单下得也多。”公司销售负责人张骞说。
目前,在慈溪(含杭州湾新区)及其周边地区已形成较为完整的整车和零配件生产供应链。据统计,今年前4个月,慈溪(含杭州湾新区)出口匈牙利、斯洛伐克等中东欧国家的汽车零配件超过2000万元,同比增长61.76%。 人文交流的重要載体
在老外滩滨江外马路一带,百余个展位展销着欧洲厨师现场制作的美食、中东欧国家商品、中东欧咖啡红酒、捷克啤酒、浙江“百县千碗”美食、宁波农家小吃等。
在第二届“舌尖上的相遇——中东欧美食与‘诗画浙江 · 百县千碗’人文交流活动”的现场, 来自塞尔维亚、保加利亚的外交官现场烹制着本国特色美食,进行线上直播;与中国烹饪协会国际美食委员会携手,共同举办中东欧美食挑战赛;举办欧洲古典油画精品展;组织中西文化演艺……
在充满异域风情的老外滩街区里,闹中取静的中东欧之家就设立在离主道路不远的二横街上。门前的砖瓦屋檐上,陈列着中东欧各国的旗帜;而内部的木质墙面上,则展示着中东欧国家的特色商品。这间位于老外滩的门店,也是中东欧之家品牌实体化运营后的首家门店。运营一年以来,中东欧之家已经渐渐打响了品牌,从老外滩辐射全国,构筑起和中东欧国家双边交流的窗口。
当然,中东欧之家除了中东欧商品的推介和经贸交流,还通过定期举办中东欧产品展、美食节、文化交流会、旅游推介会等系列活动,宣讲中国—中东欧故事、承接双边文化旅游等多领域业务,搭建起双边文化交流桥梁,进一步推动双边文化“引进来”“走出去”。
文化交流让市民和客商更加了解中东欧国家,并以此促进经贸合作,构筑起双边交流的互动平台。
中国和中东欧国家的合作,离不开双边文化的交流互动,勇担使命的宁波也在这一方面先人一步。眼下,宁波正如火如荼地开展“中东欧品牌文化月”,不断提升市民对中东欧品牌与文化的认知。
“我们联合宁波的5所高校,让中东欧的品牌在老师、学生、家长心中‘种草’,未来还将覆盖杭州、武汉、重庆等地。5月,我们还参与了镇海蛟川双语小学的双语文化节,让孩子们用英语介绍中东欧的美食风情。”宁波新贸供应链有限公司副总经理陈志光介绍道。
陈志光所在的公司,还运营着一个服务外商引进的重要平台——中国(宁波)中东欧青年创业创新中心。接下来,他们想打造中东欧品牌馆,并通过出版《中东欧指北》手册、举办短视频大赛、中东欧文化知识竞赛,促进文化的交融创新。
目前,宁波已与中东欧国家22座城市建立友好关系,实现中东欧17国全覆盖,并与中东欧78所院校建立合作关系或姐妹学校关系。相信待到疫情好转,宁波和中东欧国家的友谊“种子”终将根深叶茂、鲜花盛放。
“文化和艺术是体现情感表达、人民精神、民族理念、历史传承的最佳方式,可以深化不同国家人民的相互理解和友谊。”希腊国家歌剧院董事会主席瓦西里斯 · 卡拉米扎尼斯认为,中东欧国家和中国丰富精彩的文化交流活动,将向世界展现交相辉映的互鉴之美。
携手共谋发展
“这是我们第一次与中国对接,除了一对一的买卖洽谈外,还希望借助宁波发达的跨境电商营销网络,帮助我们搭建渠道,打开中国大市场。”半个月前,阿尔巴尼亚的乳企负责人Kledis Qevani第一次上线中国—阿尔巴尼亚农产品进出口贸易对接会,就对宁波直抒胸臆。
直到今年2月峰会,阿尔巴尼亚才与中国签订进口乳品检验检疫协议。当前阿尔巴尼亚还没有一家企业与中国开展乳制品贸易,这也使得阿方厂商借道宁波、“寻路中国”的心情更为迫切。
“宁波当得起这样的期待!”“过来人”波兰投资贸易局中国区驻华代表安德烈斯 · 尤德良倒是云淡风轻。作为首批拿到乳制品“入场券”的中东欧国家,几年前,波兰牛奶正是经由宁波,打开了波澜壮阔的中国市场。
于波兰而言,“甬”字本身,就意味着通往中国大市场的“黄金通道”。作为“一带一路”的节点城市,宁波更是早已意识到必须把握中国—中东欧合作这一千载难逢的机遇,在为国家服务的过程中又被国家赋能。
去年,受疫情影响,全球商务活动受到相应的影响。9月,宁波市商务局与波兰投资贸易局、中国银行三方携手,举办中东欧国家中小企业跨境撮合线上对接会(波兰专场)活动。这令尤德良赞不绝口,“在全球中小企业经营受疫情强烈冲击的背景下,宁波主动打造跨国合作交流平台,发力精准,体现了‘首选之地’的作为与担当。”
他不知道的是,在直通中东欧的“宁波特快”上,类似的屏上“相亲”早已成了标配。去年6月,在全球疫情暴发的背景下,宁波率先推出“中东欧商品云上展”,来自塞尔维亚、波兰等10个中东欧国家的外交官,进入直播间变身“全球好货推荐官”推销本国商品,不少产品上架数秒就被一扫而空。两天中,外交官直播的累计观看人数超过200万人。
此后,这一模式被广泛借鉴,成为中东欧商品入华的一大标志。
不谋全局者,不足以谋一域。面对中华民族伟大复兴的战略全局,面对世界百年未有之大变局,宁波人清醒地意识到,“只有真正融入‘国家使命’,才是宁波谋划中东欧工作的基本出发点”。
Greetings from Central and Eastern Europe
By Liu Fanli Xu Lulu Ma keqiang
Lying in the archives of Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo city, there is a special guestbook filled with “greetings from Central and Eastern Europe”.
“Books can travel through time and link our souls with the sages of the past. With its impressive book collections, Tianyi Pavilion is such a ‘time tunnel’. This trip to Ningbo will be etched in my soul as well," wrote Serbian writer Vojislav Kahanovic in the guestbook. He was among a group of 25 writers from Central and Eastern Europe invited to attend a series of literary exchanges at Tianyi Pavilion in September 2018. Kahanovic’s message is just one of the many “special messages” from Central and Eastern Europe recorded in the guestbook and a testament to the consolidation of traditional friendship between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) since the two sides established cooperation mechanism more than a decade ago. It is also a result of Ningbo’s commitment to deepening reform and opening-up. As the second China and Central and Eastern European Countries Expo, or China-CEEC Expo, opens in Ningbo, cultural and people-to-people exchanges will be further boosted.
Geographically, Central and Eastern Europe roughly covers an area extending from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Mediterranean Sea in the south, and is an important transit point connecting Western and Northern Europe. In fact, most of the CEEC were among the first to recognize the People’s Republic of China. A key port along the Belt and Road, Ningbo city, on the other hand, has become a “golden channel” through which China and CEEC cooperate in trade, investment and many other areas.
As the only demonstration zone for China-CEEC trade cooperation set up in June 2018, Ningbo has been attracting Central and Eastern European investors since then. Among the many collaborative projects that have been implemented, one of the most notable is the joint venture between Ningbo Menovo Pharmaceutical and Krka, Slovenia’s largest pharmaceutical company; through this joint venture, Krka is able to bring its advanced technology and quality products to the vast Chinese market.
Groglass, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of anti-?reflective coatings on glass headquartered in Latvia, is also looking for Chinese partners through online trade fairs held in Ningbo.
By the end of 2020, actual investment from CEEC in Ningbo reached 563 million US dollars, and actual investment from Ningbo in CEEC reached 988 million US dollars. Milk from Poland, rose water from Bulgaria, crystals from Czech, Lego toys from Hungary, coffee machines from Romania…more and more Central and Eastern European products are introduced into Ningbo, and into China via Ningbo. “They are among those that are most popular with our customers,” according to Ningbo Leadgo E-Commerce Co. Ltd., a company specialized in cross-border e-commerce: its import volume from CEEC increased by 150% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021.
Indeed, Ningbo’s overall import and export to CEEC in the first quarter of 2021 stood at 11.96 billion yuan, up 48.8% year-on-year; in fact, its import growth rate reached an unprecedented 241.2%. “We’ve been doing import and export business with Poland since graduation,” said Huang Dongdong, CEO of Ningbo Kevi Trade Co. Ltd., “and we came to Ningbo in 2014 after learning of the exhibition for products from the CEEC, and have settled down in the city without hesitation.” Huang’s company is now importing over 10,000 helmets from Poland every year, and more than 90% of firefighters in Jiangsu province wear the helmet, which can withstand not only intense heat but also the impact of heavy objects. Kevi’s burgeoning business has also benefited from the Permanent Exhibition of CEEC Featured Commodities in Ningbo, China’s largest CEEC trade promotion platform with the most diversified products. A total of 36 direct selling centers have been set up all over China through the platform, bringing all sorts of goods in Ningbo’s CEEC trade logistics center directly to the customers.
While Ningbo’s import from the CEEC is booming, its export to the area is experiencing steady progress as well. For instance, private businesses in Cixi district have been making considerable inroads into the CEEC market since early 2021, thanks to the policy support of the Belt and Road Initiative. The first quarter of 2021 saw Cixi’s export to CEEC grow by 48.93%, with the total export volume standing at 124 million yuan. In the same period, Cixi saw the value of its auto parts export to Hungary and Slovakia, among other Central and Eastern European countries, exceeded 20 million, a 61.76% year-on-year increase.
Apart from trade and investment, cultural exchanges and communications constitute another major part of cooperation between China and CEEC. Ningbo has also taken the lead in this regard. A series of cultural events, including food festivals, painting exhibitions and performances, has been held. Right now, the “CEEC Brands Cultural Month” is underway, which it is hoped will improve the public’s awareness of brands from CEEC and help them learn more about the region’s culture.
At present, Ningbo has established friendly relations with 22 cities in Central and Eastern Europe, covering all 17 countries in the area, and its colleges and universities have established cooperative or sister school relations with 78 colleges and universities in Central and Eastern Europe. As Vassilis Karamizanis, chairman of the board of directors of the Greek National Opera, once said: “Culture and arts are the best ways to show people’s emotions, the national spirit, its ideology and history. They will help deepen mutual understanding and friendship between people from different countries.”
2018年9月,25位中东欧作家受邀赴天一阁参加文学交流活动,在临别留言中,塞尔维亚作家沃基斯拉 · 夫卡哈诺维奇这样写道:“书本可以穿越时空,让我们的灵魂与先贤们相连。书藏古今的天一阁就是这样一个‘时空隧道’。这次与宁波的邂逅也将深深刻进我的灵魂。”
在这一关于中东欧的“专属记忆”中,类似的真情告白不胜枚举……
这是中国—中东欧国家合作机制建立十余年来双方共同把握发展机遇又一成果。随着新一届的中国—中东欧国家博览会在宁波的召开,一幅中国—中东欧国家人文交流的宏伟画卷在东海之滨再度徐徐铺开。
黄金“甬”道
从地理上看,中东欧北起波罗的海,南至地中海,是连接西欧和北欧的重要中转站,大多数中东欧国家也是首批承认新中国的国家,与中国有着深厚的传统友谊。而宁波则成为中国与中东欧国家的黄金“甬”道,承担起了深化双方友谊的“国家使命”。
2020年2月出台的《关于建设宁波中国—中东欧国家经贸合作示范区的总体方案》提出,努力把示范区建设成为推动“一带一路”倡议并对接欧洲经济圈的新通道、承载中国—中东欧经贸合作举措的新平台、地方探索国际合作制度创新的新高地。
此后,众多合作项目在宁波落地。最为人津津乐道的是,美诺华药业联手斯洛文尼亚最大的制药公司(Krka)在宁波成立合资公司。Krka公司具有技术、产品、欧洲市场的优势,而跟宁波的合作则可以帮助他们打开中国市场,让更多优质药品进入中国。
除了产业、市场可以优势互补外,人才交流同样是宁波打造中国—中东欧“黄金通道”的核心抓手。宁波北仑充分发挥海外工程师协同创新中心这一人才优势,聚焦智能制造、高端模具、新材料等领域,全力推进全国首个“国家引进国外智力示范区”建设,把中东欧人才引进融入“国家使命”。
与此同时,北仑还充分用好自贸区平台和政策,加快建设中东欧贸易物流园,推动进口保税仓、跨境电商综合服务平台、出口监管仓等成果释放最大效用,以更灵活的海关监管、更优化的港口服务、更多元的贸易方式进一步打通贸易链条,力争进口更多中东欧国家特色产品。
作为全国唯一的“17+1”经贸合作示范区,宁波正在成为中国和中东欧产业对接、经贸合作的“桥头堡”。一年前,宁波中东欧创新基地、中东欧国际产业合作园在余姚揭牌,彼时栽下的“梧桐树”,终于引来了“金凤凰”。
世界领先的防反射玻璃制造商拉脱维亚企业Groglass也向宁波伸出合作的橄榄枝。它的产品应用于许多全球知名的博物馆展柜、画框玻璃、豪华建筑,希望能通过宁波举办的线上对接会,找到中国的合作伙伴。
截至2020年年底,中东欧国家在宁波实际投资累计达5.63亿美元,宁波在中东欧国家实际投资累计达9.88亿美元,双边投资总量位居全国同类城市前列。
好物走进千家万户
口感醇厚的波兰妙可牛奶、芬芳馥郁的保加利亚玫瑰水、浪漫剔透的捷克水晶……宁波的朋友,对这些中东欧进口商品并不陌生。随着宁波进入“中东欧时间”,各种进口商品源源不断地进入国内。
走进宁波前湾综合保税区跨境电商展示中心,波兰产乳制品、捷克和匈牙利产乐高玩具、罗马尼亚产咖啡机……琳琅满目的中东欧商品映入眼帘。“这些进口商品在我们电商平台上卖得特别好。”宁波立得购电子商务科技有限公司跨境电商业务负责人说,今年前4个月,公司的中东欧进口额同比增长超过150%。
回眸宁波与中东欧国家的贸易往来,一连串喜人的数字映入眼帘。今年1~4月,宁波对中东欧17国进出口119.6亿元,同比增长48.8%,其中进口增幅更是达到史无前例的241.2%。精致而实用的中东欧商品,正在不断借道宁波,走遍全国的大街小巷。
“我们大学一毕业就开始做波兰的进出口生意,2014年听说宁波有中东欧国家特色商品展,就慕名来到这里。正好乘政策的东风,业务越做越红火,每年能进口上万件波兰头盔。”说起结缘宁波的经历,宁波柯维贸易有限公司负责人黄咚咚不禁打开了话匣子。
黄咚咚相中的明星产品,来自全球一线安防企业KZPT公司。它不仅能抵御烈火的考验,还能抵挡重物的冲击。如今,江苏省90%以上的消防员,正是使用这款从宁波进口的波兰头盔,在火灾险情中可以增强自我保护的防御力。
更为市民耳熟能详的,莫过于波兰牛奶、塞尔维亚婴儿米粉、罗马尼亚无花果可可酱……这些挑动味蕾的“人间美味”,無论是在宁波各大商超,还是在知名电商平台,“出镜率”都在成倍提高。
宁波还拥有全国覆盖最全、品类最丰富的中东欧商品贸易促进平台——中东欧国家特色商品常年展。它在全国设立了36家中东欧特色商品直销中心,并与中东欧贸易物流园基地形成“前店后仓”的格局,让好物美食走进千家万户。
进口火热,出口稳健。今年年初以来,慈溪民营企业借“一带一路”东风,加快“走出去”步伐,“掘金”中东欧市场渐入佳境。今年前4个月,慈溪(含杭州湾新区)与中东欧国家贸易额突破13亿元,呈现良好增长态势。其中,进口额1.24亿元,增长48.93%;出口额12.06亿元,增长20.36%。
宁波嘉乐智能科技股份有限公司加快新产品开发,提升核心竞争力。今年前4个月,该公司出口匈牙利、捷克的空气炸锅总量同比增长近3倍。“作为全球最大的空气炸锅‘ODM生产基地’,我们公司每年研发费用超过4000万元,出口产品全部通过第三方检测机构认证。客户对产品质量认可度高,订单下得也多。”公司销售负责人张骞说。
目前,在慈溪(含杭州湾新区)及其周边地区已形成较为完整的整车和零配件生产供应链。据统计,今年前4个月,慈溪(含杭州湾新区)出口匈牙利、斯洛伐克等中东欧国家的汽车零配件超过2000万元,同比增长61.76%。 人文交流的重要載体
在老外滩滨江外马路一带,百余个展位展销着欧洲厨师现场制作的美食、中东欧国家商品、中东欧咖啡红酒、捷克啤酒、浙江“百县千碗”美食、宁波农家小吃等。
在第二届“舌尖上的相遇——中东欧美食与‘诗画浙江 · 百县千碗’人文交流活动”的现场, 来自塞尔维亚、保加利亚的外交官现场烹制着本国特色美食,进行线上直播;与中国烹饪协会国际美食委员会携手,共同举办中东欧美食挑战赛;举办欧洲古典油画精品展;组织中西文化演艺……
在充满异域风情的老外滩街区里,闹中取静的中东欧之家就设立在离主道路不远的二横街上。门前的砖瓦屋檐上,陈列着中东欧各国的旗帜;而内部的木质墙面上,则展示着中东欧国家的特色商品。这间位于老外滩的门店,也是中东欧之家品牌实体化运营后的首家门店。运营一年以来,中东欧之家已经渐渐打响了品牌,从老外滩辐射全国,构筑起和中东欧国家双边交流的窗口。
当然,中东欧之家除了中东欧商品的推介和经贸交流,还通过定期举办中东欧产品展、美食节、文化交流会、旅游推介会等系列活动,宣讲中国—中东欧故事、承接双边文化旅游等多领域业务,搭建起双边文化交流桥梁,进一步推动双边文化“引进来”“走出去”。
文化交流让市民和客商更加了解中东欧国家,并以此促进经贸合作,构筑起双边交流的互动平台。
中国和中东欧国家的合作,离不开双边文化的交流互动,勇担使命的宁波也在这一方面先人一步。眼下,宁波正如火如荼地开展“中东欧品牌文化月”,不断提升市民对中东欧品牌与文化的认知。
“我们联合宁波的5所高校,让中东欧的品牌在老师、学生、家长心中‘种草’,未来还将覆盖杭州、武汉、重庆等地。5月,我们还参与了镇海蛟川双语小学的双语文化节,让孩子们用英语介绍中东欧的美食风情。”宁波新贸供应链有限公司副总经理陈志光介绍道。
陈志光所在的公司,还运营着一个服务外商引进的重要平台——中国(宁波)中东欧青年创业创新中心。接下来,他们想打造中东欧品牌馆,并通过出版《中东欧指北》手册、举办短视频大赛、中东欧文化知识竞赛,促进文化的交融创新。
目前,宁波已与中东欧国家22座城市建立友好关系,实现中东欧17国全覆盖,并与中东欧78所院校建立合作关系或姐妹学校关系。相信待到疫情好转,宁波和中东欧国家的友谊“种子”终将根深叶茂、鲜花盛放。
“文化和艺术是体现情感表达、人民精神、民族理念、历史传承的最佳方式,可以深化不同国家人民的相互理解和友谊。”希腊国家歌剧院董事会主席瓦西里斯 · 卡拉米扎尼斯认为,中东欧国家和中国丰富精彩的文化交流活动,将向世界展现交相辉映的互鉴之美。
携手共谋发展
“这是我们第一次与中国对接,除了一对一的买卖洽谈外,还希望借助宁波发达的跨境电商营销网络,帮助我们搭建渠道,打开中国大市场。”半个月前,阿尔巴尼亚的乳企负责人Kledis Qevani第一次上线中国—阿尔巴尼亚农产品进出口贸易对接会,就对宁波直抒胸臆。
直到今年2月峰会,阿尔巴尼亚才与中国签订进口乳品检验检疫协议。当前阿尔巴尼亚还没有一家企业与中国开展乳制品贸易,这也使得阿方厂商借道宁波、“寻路中国”的心情更为迫切。
“宁波当得起这样的期待!”“过来人”波兰投资贸易局中国区驻华代表安德烈斯 · 尤德良倒是云淡风轻。作为首批拿到乳制品“入场券”的中东欧国家,几年前,波兰牛奶正是经由宁波,打开了波澜壮阔的中国市场。
于波兰而言,“甬”字本身,就意味着通往中国大市场的“黄金通道”。作为“一带一路”的节点城市,宁波更是早已意识到必须把握中国—中东欧合作这一千载难逢的机遇,在为国家服务的过程中又被国家赋能。
去年,受疫情影响,全球商务活动受到相应的影响。9月,宁波市商务局与波兰投资贸易局、中国银行三方携手,举办中东欧国家中小企业跨境撮合线上对接会(波兰专场)活动。这令尤德良赞不绝口,“在全球中小企业经营受疫情强烈冲击的背景下,宁波主动打造跨国合作交流平台,发力精准,体现了‘首选之地’的作为与担当。”
他不知道的是,在直通中东欧的“宁波特快”上,类似的屏上“相亲”早已成了标配。去年6月,在全球疫情暴发的背景下,宁波率先推出“中东欧商品云上展”,来自塞尔维亚、波兰等10个中东欧国家的外交官,进入直播间变身“全球好货推荐官”推销本国商品,不少产品上架数秒就被一扫而空。两天中,外交官直播的累计观看人数超过200万人。
此后,这一模式被广泛借鉴,成为中东欧商品入华的一大标志。
不谋全局者,不足以谋一域。面对中华民族伟大复兴的战略全局,面对世界百年未有之大变局,宁波人清醒地意识到,“只有真正融入‘国家使命’,才是宁波谋划中东欧工作的基本出发点”。
Greetings from Central and Eastern Europe
By Liu Fanli Xu Lulu Ma keqiang
Lying in the archives of Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo city, there is a special guestbook filled with “greetings from Central and Eastern Europe”.
“Books can travel through time and link our souls with the sages of the past. With its impressive book collections, Tianyi Pavilion is such a ‘time tunnel’. This trip to Ningbo will be etched in my soul as well," wrote Serbian writer Vojislav Kahanovic in the guestbook. He was among a group of 25 writers from Central and Eastern Europe invited to attend a series of literary exchanges at Tianyi Pavilion in September 2018. Kahanovic’s message is just one of the many “special messages” from Central and Eastern Europe recorded in the guestbook and a testament to the consolidation of traditional friendship between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) since the two sides established cooperation mechanism more than a decade ago. It is also a result of Ningbo’s commitment to deepening reform and opening-up. As the second China and Central and Eastern European Countries Expo, or China-CEEC Expo, opens in Ningbo, cultural and people-to-people exchanges will be further boosted.
Geographically, Central and Eastern Europe roughly covers an area extending from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Mediterranean Sea in the south, and is an important transit point connecting Western and Northern Europe. In fact, most of the CEEC were among the first to recognize the People’s Republic of China. A key port along the Belt and Road, Ningbo city, on the other hand, has become a “golden channel” through which China and CEEC cooperate in trade, investment and many other areas.
As the only demonstration zone for China-CEEC trade cooperation set up in June 2018, Ningbo has been attracting Central and Eastern European investors since then. Among the many collaborative projects that have been implemented, one of the most notable is the joint venture between Ningbo Menovo Pharmaceutical and Krka, Slovenia’s largest pharmaceutical company; through this joint venture, Krka is able to bring its advanced technology and quality products to the vast Chinese market.
Groglass, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of anti-?reflective coatings on glass headquartered in Latvia, is also looking for Chinese partners through online trade fairs held in Ningbo.
By the end of 2020, actual investment from CEEC in Ningbo reached 563 million US dollars, and actual investment from Ningbo in CEEC reached 988 million US dollars. Milk from Poland, rose water from Bulgaria, crystals from Czech, Lego toys from Hungary, coffee machines from Romania…more and more Central and Eastern European products are introduced into Ningbo, and into China via Ningbo. “They are among those that are most popular with our customers,” according to Ningbo Leadgo E-Commerce Co. Ltd., a company specialized in cross-border e-commerce: its import volume from CEEC increased by 150% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2021.
Indeed, Ningbo’s overall import and export to CEEC in the first quarter of 2021 stood at 11.96 billion yuan, up 48.8% year-on-year; in fact, its import growth rate reached an unprecedented 241.2%. “We’ve been doing import and export business with Poland since graduation,” said Huang Dongdong, CEO of Ningbo Kevi Trade Co. Ltd., “and we came to Ningbo in 2014 after learning of the exhibition for products from the CEEC, and have settled down in the city without hesitation.” Huang’s company is now importing over 10,000 helmets from Poland every year, and more than 90% of firefighters in Jiangsu province wear the helmet, which can withstand not only intense heat but also the impact of heavy objects. Kevi’s burgeoning business has also benefited from the Permanent Exhibition of CEEC Featured Commodities in Ningbo, China’s largest CEEC trade promotion platform with the most diversified products. A total of 36 direct selling centers have been set up all over China through the platform, bringing all sorts of goods in Ningbo’s CEEC trade logistics center directly to the customers.
While Ningbo’s import from the CEEC is booming, its export to the area is experiencing steady progress as well. For instance, private businesses in Cixi district have been making considerable inroads into the CEEC market since early 2021, thanks to the policy support of the Belt and Road Initiative. The first quarter of 2021 saw Cixi’s export to CEEC grow by 48.93%, with the total export volume standing at 124 million yuan. In the same period, Cixi saw the value of its auto parts export to Hungary and Slovakia, among other Central and Eastern European countries, exceeded 20 million, a 61.76% year-on-year increase.
Apart from trade and investment, cultural exchanges and communications constitute another major part of cooperation between China and CEEC. Ningbo has also taken the lead in this regard. A series of cultural events, including food festivals, painting exhibitions and performances, has been held. Right now, the “CEEC Brands Cultural Month” is underway, which it is hoped will improve the public’s awareness of brands from CEEC and help them learn more about the region’s culture.
At present, Ningbo has established friendly relations with 22 cities in Central and Eastern Europe, covering all 17 countries in the area, and its colleges and universities have established cooperative or sister school relations with 78 colleges and universities in Central and Eastern Europe. As Vassilis Karamizanis, chairman of the board of directors of the Greek National Opera, once said: “Culture and arts are the best ways to show people’s emotions, the national spirit, its ideology and history. They will help deepen mutual understanding and friendship between people from different countries.”