□ 文/本刊綜合報(bào)道

最近有關(guān)“自貿(mào)區(qū)”的爭(zhēng)論很熱。《經(jīng)濟(jì)觀察報(bào)》在2014年12月20日刊登了一篇文章，討論了在中國(guó)內(nèi)陸地區(qū)的西安、重慶、武漢，誰(shuí)有資格爭(zhēng)取到下一輪“自貿(mào)區(qū)”的問(wèn)題。本文不想來(lái)探討誰(shuí)更有資格獲得“自貿(mào)區(qū)”，是想根據(jù)文中透露出的眾多信息，洞悉出內(nèi)陸三大城市的比較優(yōu)勢(shì)。

據(jù)《經(jīng)濟(jì)觀察報(bào)》報(bào)道，上海自貿(mào)區(qū)之后，第二批名單落定，廣東、天津、福建入圍。一個(gè)值得關(guān)注的事實(shí)是，三地?zé)o一例外均位于沿海開(kāi)放地帶。

相較沿海地帶，呼聲較高的西安和重慶等內(nèi)陸自貿(mào)區(qū)在自身建設(shè)上，存在多重困境與挑戰(zhàn)，是無(wú)法回避的事實(shí)。西安可謂是申報(bào)內(nèi)陸自貿(mào)區(qū)呼聲最高的城市之一。與之相關(guān)的宏觀背景是，國(guó)家大力推進(jìn)的絲綢之路經(jīng)濟(jì)帶建設(shè)。作為絲綢之路經(jīng)濟(jì)帶位于西北地區(qū)的樞紐性城市，西安自貿(mào)區(qū)的申報(bào)主打“國(guó)家戰(zhàn)略牌”。

在去年全國(guó)“兩會(huì)”期間，西安市長(zhǎng)董軍曾公開(kāi)表示：“為進(jìn)一步發(fā)揮西安在絲綢之路經(jīng)濟(jì)帶建設(shè)中的輻射、帶動(dòng)、服務(wù)、支撐作用，建議國(guó)家設(shè)立西安自由貿(mào)易試驗(yàn)區(qū)，使之成為聯(lián)通歐亞、承東啟西的絲綢之路經(jīng)濟(jì)帶第一樞紐?！?/p>

但西安籌建內(nèi)陸自貿(mào)區(qū)也面臨多重挑戰(zhàn)。從目前全球范圍內(nèi)的自貿(mào)區(qū)建設(shè)來(lái)看，基本都以運(yùn)輸成本相對(duì)低廉的水運(yùn)港口作為依托，缺少水運(yùn)港口成為一大短板。這讓西安在對(duì)外貿(mào)易中，“被迫”依賴于鐵路貨運(yùn)。作為西安申報(bào)自貿(mào)區(qū)的核心區(qū)域之一的西安國(guó)際港務(wù)區(qū)，核心對(duì)外貿(mào)易通道，即是連接歐亞的國(guó)際貨運(yùn)班列“長(zhǎng)安號(hào)”。

但這一通道也面臨競(jìng)爭(zhēng)，國(guó)內(nèi)多個(gè)城市的通歐班列與西安往西的干線基本重合。這在一定程度上分流了西安作為始發(fā)站的貨源優(yōu)勢(shì)，并影響了其輻射半徑。與此相關(guān)的一個(gè)數(shù)據(jù)顯示，在進(jìn)出口貿(mào)易量上，西安已遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)落后于成都，2013年的進(jìn)出口總額不及成都的一半。

另一個(gè)申報(bào)內(nèi)陸自貿(mào)區(qū)呼聲較高的城市，是地處西部的重慶。作為內(nèi)陸地區(qū)唯一的直轄市，重慶具有

內(nèi)陸城市最大的經(jīng)濟(jì)體量，2013年，無(wú)論是GDP總值還是增速，重慶均位居內(nèi)陸城市之首。

目前，重慶擁有兩大保稅園區(qū)，一是兩路寸灘保稅港區(qū)，是目前中國(guó)境內(nèi)唯一的內(nèi)陸型和首個(gè)“水港＋空港”一區(qū)雙核保稅港區(qū)；另一個(gè)西永綜合保稅區(qū)位于重慶市沙坪壩區(qū)西永微電子產(chǎn)業(yè)園區(qū)內(nèi)，則是中國(guó)規(guī)劃面積最大的綜合保稅區(qū)，目前該區(qū)已經(jīng)吸引惠普、富士康、英業(yè)達(dá)、廣達(dá)等一批IT巨頭相繼進(jìn)駐。

而在重慶的內(nèi)陸自貿(mào)區(qū)申報(bào)策略上，則突出其“兩帶交匯”（絲綢之路經(jīng)濟(jì)帶和長(zhǎng)江經(jīng)濟(jì)帶）的戰(zhàn)略優(yōu)勢(shì)。在絲綢之路經(jīng)濟(jì)帶對(duì)西貿(mào)易的通道上，重慶開(kāi)通了渝新歐鐵路貿(mào)易干線；而在長(zhǎng)江經(jīng)濟(jì)帶建設(shè)上，作為長(zhǎng)江上游最大的港口城市，重慶還擁有西安并不具備的水港出口。據(jù)悉，重慶申報(bào)自貿(mào)區(qū)的主體區(qū)域?qū)⒓性趦山聟^(qū)和巴南區(qū)的部分區(qū)域，其中巴南區(qū)將主打“濱江自由貿(mào)易區(qū)”。

本刊記者通過(guò)調(diào)查了解到的情況是：重慶現(xiàn)在不僅僅“擁有兩大保稅園區(qū)”,還擁有“三個(gè)三合一”大平臺(tái)，即港口、機(jī)場(chǎng)和鐵路“三樞紐、三口岸、三保稅區(qū)”三個(gè)三合一的開(kāi)放平臺(tái)。在中國(guó)內(nèi)陸地區(qū)，水陸空每個(gè)樞紐都成為口岸，都有保稅區(qū)配對(duì)，重慶是唯一一家?！叭齻€(gè)三合一”是重慶開(kāi)放的標(biāo)志性概念、標(biāo)志性特征。

《經(jīng)濟(jì)觀察報(bào)》報(bào)道說(shuō)，長(zhǎng)江水運(yùn)之于重慶，存在一個(gè)客觀的局限。受制于下游長(zhǎng)江三峽船閘的通航能力和荊江河道的水深限制，由重慶始發(fā)的貨輪“被迫”在宜昌、武漢等下游港口轉(zhuǎn)運(yùn)，這令原本相對(duì)低廉的水運(yùn)成本大幅提高。更為嚴(yán)峻的現(xiàn)實(shí)是，荊江航道的水深拓展極限為4.5米，這意味著，從目前的技術(shù)條件看，重慶未來(lái)也無(wú)法實(shí)現(xiàn)最經(jīng)濟(jì)的萬(wàn)噸級(jí)貨輪“江海直達(dá)”。

據(jù)本刊記者了解，如何讓長(zhǎng)江順利通航，充分發(fā)揮長(zhǎng)江“黃金水道”的作用，這正是未來(lái)長(zhǎng)江經(jīng)濟(jì)帶規(guī)劃的重要內(nèi)容。

《經(jīng)濟(jì)觀察報(bào)》說(shuō)，另一個(gè)值得一提的內(nèi)陸城市，則是地處中部的武漢。去年8月，湖北省政府在武漢召開(kāi)“學(xué)習(xí)借鑒上海自貿(mào)區(qū)經(jīng)驗(yàn)，啟動(dòng)先行先試工作”發(fā)布會(huì)，正式宣布以武漢東湖高新區(qū)（含東湖綜合保稅區(qū)）為主體，重點(diǎn)在七大領(lǐng)域先行先試，力爭(zhēng)成為中國(guó)內(nèi)陸首個(gè)自由貿(mào)易區(qū)。

相較西安、重慶，武漢的地域優(yōu)勢(shì)無(wú)疑更加明顯，作為內(nèi)陸鐵路交通網(wǎng)絡(luò)的樞紐中心，武漢同樣擁有對(duì)西亞、東歐的貿(mào)易通道“漢新歐”鐵路貨運(yùn)干線，同時(shí)作為長(zhǎng)江經(jīng)濟(jì)帶中游的最大港口城市，武漢還開(kāi)通了連接?xùn)|盟的水上貿(mào)易通道。

但自身經(jīng)濟(jì)體量不足和經(jīng)濟(jì)對(duì)外依存度較低，是武漢申報(bào)自貿(mào)區(qū)面臨的最大短板。與重慶相比，武漢GDP總量不足萬(wàn)億。2013年，無(wú)論是進(jìn)出口總額還是增幅均不及重慶的三分之一。

對(duì)此，本刊記者調(diào)查到，去年前三季度，重慶對(duì)外貿(mào)易高速增長(zhǎng)，實(shí)現(xiàn)進(jìn)出口總額4514.42億元，已超2013年全年，同比增長(zhǎng)52.9%，增速位列全國(guó)第一。其中，出口2920.31億元，增長(zhǎng)45.5%；進(jìn)口1594.11億元，增長(zhǎng)68.6%。重慶進(jìn)出口、出口、進(jìn)口總額均進(jìn)入全國(guó)前10位，居西部地區(qū)第1位。

《經(jīng)濟(jì)觀察報(bào)》說(shuō)，諸多的困境與現(xiàn)實(shí)，讓申報(bào)內(nèi)陸自貿(mào)區(qū)的各大城市在首次“擴(kuò)容”中“集體失意”?？陀^來(lái)看，與沿海地區(qū)相比，內(nèi)陸城市在地域優(yōu)勢(shì)、交通便利性、外向型經(jīng)濟(jì)依存度等多方面尚存一定障礙，能否最終獲批自貿(mào)區(qū)，既要看國(guó)家層面的戰(zhàn)略考量和利益的平衡，也要看地方對(duì)現(xiàn)實(shí)問(wèn)題的解決程度。

Chongqing Blessed with Competitive Advantages in Applying for FTA

Recently,the debate on FTA zone has been sizzling.Economic Observer put on an article on December 20,2014,discussing that who,among Xi’an,Chongqing,and Wuhan in China’s inland,is eligible to win FTA in the next round.This reporter didn’t intend to argue who is more qualified in this regard,instead,in light of information disclosed hereof,would like to contribute insights into competitive strengths of the three cities.

Economic Observer reported,since the establishment of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone,the second round of list was pinpointed with Guangdong,Tianjin,and Fujian included.It’s worthy noting three of which are all located in the coastal region.

In comparison with the coastal regions,the voice of Xi’an and Chongqing is laud,however this is a fact that they face many challenges and difficulties in applying for FTA.Among them,Xi’an is one of cities applying for,in a high key,the establishment of FTA zone.Against the backdrop of the Silk Road Economic Belt drive,Xi’an,known as the hub in northwestern China,plays the “national strategy”card in its application.

“In order to further exert the role of Xi’an in building the Silk Road Economic Belt,it’s suggested to establish the China (Xi’an) FTA Zone,which will become the first hub along the belt linking Europe with Asia and between east and west”,expressed openly Mayor Dong Jun of Xi’an,during the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC.

Xi’an faces multifarious challenges too.Looking around the existing FTA zones worldwide,they are all backed by harbors featuring relatively cheap costs for shipment.It’s nothing less than an unfavourable factor without a harbour.This is to say,Xi’an has to rely on the railway for cargo transport in int’l trade.Xi’an Int’l Trade ＆ Logistics Park,as a core area of proposed Xi’an FTA Zone,claims a main channel for int’l trade i.e.“Chang’an”int’l cargo train connecting to Europe and Asia.

Nevertheless the path encounters competition too as trains to Europe from various domestic cities overlap basically with the main line of Xi’an westward,which eclipsed,to a certain extent,the role of Xi’an as a starting station and put a dent in its radius effect.Data showed that imports and exports of Xi’an lag far behind that of Chengdu,less than a half in 2013.

Chongqing is the other one vigorously applying for FTA.Chongqing,the one and only in western China under the direct leadership of the State Council,boasts the largest economic aggregate in China’s inland.Regardless either GDP or growth,Chongqing took the lead in China’s inland in 2013.

Presently,Chongqing houses two bonded parks,one is called Lianglu Cuntan Bonded Port,known for dual functions solely in China’s inland and first of this kind for the "Water Port and Airport" mode;the other Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Area,situated in Chongqing Xiyong Micro-Electronics Industrial Park,Shapingba District,Chongqing,claims one of the largest planned area in China,which has by far allured an army of IT giants e.g.HP,Foxconn,Inventec,and Quanta.

作為內(nèi)陸地區(qū)唯一的直轄市，重慶具有內(nèi)陸城市最大的經(jīng)濟(jì)體量，2013年，無(wú)論是GDP總值還是增速，重慶均位居內(nèi)陸城市之首。

As for the application strategy,Chongqing underscored its strategic merit of being “a juncture of two Belts”(the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Yangtze River Economic Belt).On the trade path westward along the Silk Road Economic Belt,Chongqing opened the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe int’l railway;in building the Yangtze River Economic Belt,Chongqing,renowned for the largest port city on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River,possesses the facilities Xi’an is short of.It’s said the principle area in which Chongqing applied for the establishment of FTA zone mainly covers part of Liangjiang New Area and Banan District,the latter one was designed for “Binjiang Free Trade Zone”.

This reporter found out that not only does Chongqing accommodate “two bonded parks”but it owns three “threein-one”platforms i.e.port,airport,and railway as well as three “three-in-one”open platforms featuring “three hubs,three ports,and three bonded areas”.Chongqing is the only one who proclaimed that each hub of waterway,road,and aviation can become a port and pair with its respective bonded area.Three “three-in-one”endow Chongqing’s opening-up with iconic concept and traits.

Economic Observer pointed out,as for Chongqing,the Yangtze River is subject to the passing-through capacity of the Three Gorges Dam and the waterway depth of Jingjiang River.Cargo ships from Chongqing have to be transferred at ports e.g.Yichang and Wuhan on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,making a drastic increase in relatively cheap shipment costs.What’s worse,the waterway depth of Jinjiang River is maximally 4.5 meters,it means,by current technologies,the most economic 10,000-ton cargo ships from Chongqing won’t be able to have access to the seas.

This reporter investigated that how to enable the Yangtze River to smoothly open to navigation so as to make full play of the “Golden Waterway”is a pivotal part of Yangtze River Economic Belt Planning.

According to Economic Observer,another inland city worth mentioning is Wuhan in central China.Hubei Provincial Government kicked off,in August 2014,a meeting “Learning from China (Shanghai) Int’l FTA Zone and Launching the Pilot and Trial Programs”in Wuhan,and officially identified Wuhan East Lake Hi-tech Zone (incl.East Lake Comprehensive Bonded Zone) as the principal body to try a pilot program in seven key fields in an endeavour to become the first of this kind in China’s inland.

In comparison with Xi’an and Chongqing,Wuhan unquestionably enjoys geographic advantages as it,known as a hub of railway network inland,runs the “Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe”int’l railway to West Asia and East Europe.Meanwhile,Wuhan,the largest port city on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt,also cultivated trade relations with the ASEAN through waterway.Given insufficient economic aggregate itself and low reliance on int’l trade,Wuhan has to overcome the most salient weakness.Comparing to Chongqing,Wuhan’s GDP is less than 1 trillion yuan.Regardless either imports and exports or growth,it couldn't make up one third of Chongqing’s in 2013.

This reporter checked out,Chongqing saw a rapid growth of int’l trade in the first three quarters last year,imports and exports totaled 451.442 billion yuan,outperforming that in 2013,a year on year increase of 52.9%,ranking No.1 nationwide.Exports stood at 292.031 billion yuan,up by 45.5%;imports at 159.411 billion yuan,up by 68.6%.The total of imports and exports,imports,and exports of Chongqing separately jostled into national top 10,occupying the first place in western China.

Economic Observer raised,the predicament and reality disappointed the cities inland applying for FTA in the first round.Objectively speaking,geographic strength,transport convenience,and degree of dependence on export-oriented economy are indeed an impediment for them,whether they will be given green light or not relies on national strategy and balance of interest as well as the capabilities of local governments in tackling the real problems.