□ 文/本刊記者 黎敏

東博會(huì)主題國：十載星光熠熠，前行不忘初心

□ 文/本刊記者 黎敏

“相聚到永久，風(fēng)雨并肩走，看東方我們同聲唱，我們永遠(yuǎn)是朋友?！碑?dāng)會(huì)歌《相聚到永久》第一次在八桂大地上響起，中國—東盟博覽會(huì)也第一次綻放在世人面前。14年前，東博會(huì)從零開始，許許多多個(gè)“第一次”令人難忘：有第一次推出“魅力之城”活動(dòng)，第一次舉辦農(nóng)業(yè)展，也有第一次建立主題國機(jī)制。

從2007年第4屆東博會(huì)開始推出的主題國機(jī)制，到2017年正好是一個(gè)輪回。十年勠力同心，主題國機(jī)制已成為東博會(huì)11國共辦機(jī)制的有力保障；十年星光熠熠，歷任主題國政商要人云集，活動(dòng)大放異彩。在主題國機(jī)制下，東盟各國不僅有了“合唱”的舞臺(tái)，也有了“領(lǐng)唱”的機(jī)會(huì)，站在東博會(huì)的大舞臺(tái)上，中國—東盟合作共贏的“主題曲”正越唱越響亮。

第12屆東博會(huì)主題國泰國副總理與中國企業(yè)CEO圓桌對(duì)話會(huì)

你好，東博會(huì)主題國

由中國總理倡議并得到東盟10國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人普遍歡迎；由中國與東盟10國經(jīng)貿(mào)主管部門及東盟秘書處共同主辦，這些標(biāo)簽讓東博會(huì)自創(chuàng)辦之初，就具備了極高的規(guī)格及11國共辦的特色。2006年第3屆東博會(huì)上，時(shí)任中國國務(wù)院總理的溫家寶及東盟10國國家元首、政府首腦的悉數(shù)出席，更是讓該屆東博會(huì)成為歷屆東博會(huì)里“陣容”最強(qiáng)大的一次。

也是在2006年，第3屆東博會(huì)高官會(huì)上各方達(dá)成共識(shí)，為充分發(fā)揮東盟各國參與東博會(huì)的積極性，讓各具特色的東盟10國能充分展示各自的魅力與商機(jī)，從第4屆東博會(huì)起，實(shí)行主題國機(jī)制，即每屆東博會(huì)確定一個(gè)東盟國家作為主題國，按照東盟國家國名的英文首字母順序依次出任，主題國國家領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人將率團(tuán)出席當(dāng)屆東博會(huì)。文萊是東博會(huì)首個(gè)主題國。

當(dāng)?shù)?屆東博會(huì)如約而至，伴著悠揚(yáng)的特色音樂演奏，主題國文萊在其“魅力之城”——斯里巴加灣展館舉行了隆重的開館儀式，時(shí)任中國國務(wù)院副總理曾培炎與文萊王儲(chǔ)比拉親自為展館揭牌。

主題國作為該屆東博會(huì)的重點(diǎn)推介國家，會(huì)期除了安排主題國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人出席“魅力之城”（商品館）的開館儀式外，其領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人也將代表東盟方在東博會(huì)開幕大會(huì)上致辭，主題國部長級(jí)的官員則將受邀主持東博會(huì)開幕大會(huì)。

根據(jù)官方統(tǒng)計(jì)，前13屆東博會(huì)共有63位中國和東盟國家領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人、2700位部長級(jí)貴賓出席。其中中方領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人包括現(xiàn)任中國國家領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人習(xí)近平、李克強(qiáng)、張高麗等。而榮任主題國的東盟國家，其政府首腦也大多會(huì)親自率團(tuán)出席。各國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人共赴盛會(huì)，不僅是東博會(huì)共辦共贏的重要體現(xiàn)，也為雙方經(jīng)貿(mào)合作提供了有利的政治環(huán)境和機(jī)制保障。

為了重點(diǎn)推介主題國獨(dú)特的貿(mào)易投資環(huán)境、優(yōu)勢(shì)和商機(jī)，東博會(huì)期間還舉辦主題國專場(chǎng)推介會(huì)、主題國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人與中國企業(yè)CEO圓桌對(duì)話會(huì)等經(jīng)貿(mào)活動(dòng)，以增進(jìn)中國—東盟政商界的高端對(duì)話，密切商界合作。而在國家形象展示上，主題國依托“魅力之城”專題，精心推出獨(dú)具特色的文藝演出和文化交流活動(dòng)。作為禮遇，主題國在“魅力之城”展區(qū)的展位選擇及相關(guān)活動(dòng)安排也將獲得更多便利。

通過這些高規(guī)格、多元化的主題國活動(dòng)，10年來歷任主題國在東博會(huì)的大舞臺(tái)上，不僅收獲了各界的鮮花掌聲，也收獲了沉甸甸的合作碩果。

春華秋實(shí)，為主題國點(diǎn)贊

中國自1991年與東盟正式建立對(duì)話關(guān)系以來，始終堅(jiān)定地支持東盟一體化，支持東盟共同體建設(shè)，支持東盟在區(qū)域合作中的中心地位。這種對(duì)東盟中心地位的支持，不僅貫穿于中國—東盟合作發(fā)展的進(jìn)程中，也反映在了東博會(huì)的各項(xiàng)機(jī)制中。

東博會(huì)通過高官會(huì)、主題國等機(jī)制，11國共商、共辦、共贏的機(jī)制早已深入人心。特別是榮任主題國的國家，不僅在東博會(huì)的籌備與舉辦過程中能夠深度參與，在項(xiàng)目合作上，也滿載而歸。

2011年馬來西亞出任第8屆東博會(huì)主題國時(shí)，馬來西亞總理納吉布親自率團(tuán)出席。開幕大會(huì)當(dāng)天，納吉布總理與時(shí)任中國國務(wù)院總理的溫家寶共同見證了兩國政府簽署中馬欽州產(chǎn)業(yè)園區(qū)合作會(huì)議紀(jì)要，并親自為園區(qū)揭牌，翻開了中馬兩國合作共建產(chǎn)業(yè)園區(qū)的新篇章。而在為主題國量身定制的“馬來西亞總理納吉布與中國企業(yè)CEO圓桌對(duì)話會(huì)”上，現(xiàn)場(chǎng)簽約的合作項(xiàng)目就達(dá)100億美元。

另據(jù)統(tǒng)計(jì)，第11屆東博會(huì)，新加坡簽約項(xiàng)目8個(gè)，是上屆簽約項(xiàng)目的4倍，項(xiàng)目個(gè)數(shù)為東盟國家之最。在開幕大會(huì)上，人們不僅見到了新加坡總理李顯龍，也見證了廣西北部灣國際港務(wù)集團(tuán)公司分別與新加坡國際港務(wù)集團(tuán)（PSA）、太平船務(wù)有限公司（PIL）簽署戰(zhàn)略合作協(xié)議，在航運(yùn)、碼頭及物流等領(lǐng)域展開全面深入合作。新加坡大華銀行集團(tuán)也與中國國際貿(mào)易促進(jìn)委員會(huì)續(xù)簽合作備忘錄，以重點(diǎn)支持能源、基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施、信息技術(shù)等企業(yè)。這一年，新加坡是東博會(huì)的主題國。

“越南總理阮春福9月10日至15日訪問中國，這是今年初越共十二大換屆以來，越南政府高級(jí)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人首次訪問中國，阮春福11日在中國廣西南寧出席第13屆中國—東盟博覽會(huì)，今年也是越南首次成為這一展會(huì)的主題國?！痹侥稀睹裰菆?bào)》在其2016年9月的一篇報(bào)道中這樣寫道。而據(jù)越南工貿(mào)部數(shù)據(jù)顯示，第13屆東博會(huì)是越南參與度最高的一次，其在東博會(huì)上有超過250個(gè)展位，展示面積超過5000平方米，參展規(guī)模位列東盟國家首位，僅次于中國。

在主題國機(jī)制的保障下，歷任主題國在東博會(huì)上大放異彩、收獲滿滿，各國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人也紛紛為東博會(huì)點(diǎn)贊。第9屆東博會(huì)主題國緬甸的時(shí)任總統(tǒng)吳登盛，在當(dāng)年開幕大會(huì)上曾表示，東博會(huì)在推動(dòng)中國與東盟的友誼和貿(mào)易方面起著至關(guān)重要的作用?！爸袊獤|盟博覽會(huì)、中國—東盟商務(wù)與投資峰會(huì)，已經(jīng)成為了一個(gè)穩(wěn)固的、成功的平臺(tái)，推動(dòng)了東盟和中國之間的經(jīng)濟(jì)貿(mào)易交流以及自由貿(mào)易區(qū)的發(fā)展?！弊鳛槔塾?jì)參加?xùn)|博會(huì)次數(shù)最多的政要，柬埔寨首相洪森如此評(píng)價(jià)。

不忘初心，升級(jí)綻放

在主題國機(jī)制設(shè)立時(shí)，中國—東盟自貿(mào)區(qū)尚未正式建立，建設(shè)“一帶一路”、開展國際產(chǎn)能合作等倡議也還未提出。而10年后的今天，中國—東盟合作已從“黃金十年”邁向“鉆石十年”，作為服務(wù)中國—東盟合作的有效公共平臺(tái)，東博會(huì)亦與時(shí)俱進(jìn)、加速升級(jí)。在此基礎(chǔ)上，東博會(huì)主題國機(jī)制的內(nèi)涵也變得更加豐富。

自2015年起，東博會(huì)先后在主題國泰國、越南舉辦了東博會(huì)巡展。東博會(huì)巡展這一新形式，不僅讓東盟國家的客商，特別是中小企業(yè)可以在“家門口”對(duì)接中國商機(jī)；也讓主題國在自己的主場(chǎng)上，以更多樣的視角、更真切的體驗(yàn)，全方位展示其國家形象及投資環(huán)境。在巡展舉辦的過程中，主辦方還積極調(diào)動(dòng)媒體力量，對(duì)主題國進(jìn)行大量報(bào)道、采訪主題國高層領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人，借助名人效應(yīng)，積極宣傳主題國，提升東博會(huì)的國際影響力。

據(jù)中國—東盟東博會(huì)秘書處秘書長王雷介紹，東博會(huì)已確定從2017年起，每年在主題國舉辦東博會(huì)巡展。2017年5月4～6日，東博會(huì)文萊展將在文萊斯里巴加灣拉開帷幕?！皷|博會(huì)‘一主多專、巡展并行’的辦展格局已經(jīng)初步形成?！蓖趵酌貢L說道。

除此之外，東博會(huì)于2016年首次在會(huì)期外舉辦了東盟國家國別投資介紹會(huì)，主題國越南專場(chǎng)投資介紹會(huì)備受關(guān)注。從會(huì)期到會(huì)前、會(huì)后，隨著東博會(huì)服務(wù)主題國各項(xiàng)活動(dòng)周期的不斷延展，主題國的收獲也有望更加豐富。

10年精彩有約，前行初心不忘。當(dāng)我們回顧主題國機(jī)制推出的10年歷程，會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)我們所處的時(shí)代在變，全球經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展的形勢(shì)在變，中國—東盟合作的方式在變。世界在變，但東博會(huì)作為中國—東盟自貿(mào)區(qū)發(fā)展“助推器”的定位沒變，東博會(huì)促進(jìn)中國—東盟全方位合作的目標(biāo)沒變，東博會(huì)堅(jiān)持共商共辦、讓每個(gè)東盟國家共享其發(fā)展紅利的初心，未曾改變。

·聯(lián)系編輯：313464302@qq.com

The Country of Honor mechanism for CAEXPO has been established for 12 years since the 4thCAEXPO in 2007. Thanks to 10 years of concerted efforts, the mechanism guarantees the Expo can be jointly organized by China and ASEAN countries; it has brought together government and business representatives from ASEAN member states, which provides ASEAN member states with not only a stage for chorus but also opportunities to play the role of chorus leader. With such a cooperation mechanism, CAEXPO delivers increasingly thriving win-win cooperation between ASEAN and China.

Hello! Country of Honor!

The initiative of setting up the Country of Honor mechanism was proposed by then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and was actively echoed by ASEAN state leaders. The mechanism has turned the Expo into a high-caliber one with distinctive ASEAN features. The 3rdCAEXPO in 2006 gathered then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and heads of states or governments of 10 ASEAN member states.

How to keep the Expo high caliber and make sure that state leaders from 10 ASEAN member states will attend the CAEXPO? How to make ASEAN member states participate in the Expo as masters and to present their charms and business opportunities? The expectation from all sides is higher with each passing day as CAEXPO develops increasingly.

The consensus was reached by high level officials at the 3rdCAEXPO in 2006 while the mechanism started in 4thCAEXPO: Every CAEXPO will determine and designate one of ASEAN countries to be the Country of Honor in country names’ English alphabetical order. Brunei Darussalam is in the frst turn to be the Country of Honor. At the 4thCAEXPO, Brunei, as the Country of Honor, held the launching ceremony in “City of Charm” — Bandar Seri Begawan Exhibition Pavilion. The then Chinese Premier H.E. Zeng Peiyan and His Royal Highness Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah unveiled together the nameplate of the pavilion.

In terms of activities for Country of Honor, the state leader of the country of will be invited to attend the opening ceremony of City of Charm (commodity pavilion), to address at the opening ceremony of CAEXPO on behalf of ASEAN side and to deliver a speech on the CABIS. Besides, the ministerial offcials from the Country of Honor will be invited to host the open ceremony of CAEXPO.

According to the official statistics, previous 13 Expos gathered total 63 state leaders and 2,700 ministerial offcials from ASEAN member states and China. In particular, participating state leaders from China include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli. The leader delegation from the Country of Honor headed by the head of country will attend the opening ceremony. The Country of Honor mechanism will not only indicate the win-win cooperation but also provide advantageous political environment and mechanism guarantee for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

To mainly introduce the trade and investment environment, advantages and business opportunities of the Country of Honor, there will be trade promotion activities like theme country promotion conference and roundtable dialogue by ASEAN state leaders and Chinese enterprises’ CEOs, thus enhancing the high-level dialogue between bilateral government and business community and other commercial cooperation. To promote the country image, the Country of Honor will organize wonderful distinctive artistic performance and cultural exchanges themed on “City of Charm”. However, the Country of Honor will enjoy preferential conditions in terms of the choice of “City of Charm” exhibition areas and the exhibition, transport, and customs clearance of product.

Thanks to an array of high-caliber and diversified theme country activities for 10 years, fruitful achievement has been gained in China-ASEAN cooperation.

The mechanism witnesses fruitful cooperation achievements

Since the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations between China and ASEAN in 1991, China has long been supporting the centrality of ASEAN, the development of ASEAN community and central role of ASEAN played in the ASEAN-China cooperation, which has been manifested by all mechanisms for the Expo.Since the establishment of the Country of Honor mechanism, the Country of Honor not only gets deeply involved with the preparation and convocation of CAEXPO but also delivers fruitful cooperation projects.

Malaysia, as the Country of Honor in 2011, sent a delegation headed by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to attend the CAEXPO. During the ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the signing of Minute of Meeting for China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park by both governments, which chartered a new chapter for the joint development of industrial park by two sides. At the roundtable dialogue by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and CEOs from Chinese enterprises, cooperation projects worth US$ 10 billion were signed on the spot.

When Singapore was the Country of Honor at the 11thCAEXPO, Singapore signed eight projects with China, about four times of that at the previous Expo, according to the statistics. On the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witnessed Beibu Gulf Port Group signed strategic cooperation agreements with PSA and PIL respectively, in order to deepen cooperation in shipping, port and logistics. UOB has inked the MOU for cooperation with China International Trade Promotion Committee with focus on supporting companies involving energy, infrastructure, and IT.

“Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited China during September 10-15, 2016. It is the frst time for Vietnamese highlevel government leader to visit China since the convocation of 12thVietnamese Communist Party Congress; Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the 13thCAEXPO on September 11, 2016 in Nanning, Guangxi, when Vietnam was the Country of Honor for the first time,” said Dan Tri, a Vietnamese newspaper. According to the statistics by Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Vietnam owned over 250 booths with area more than 5,000 square meters, higher than that on CAEXPO. Vietnam’s scale of participation is larger than any other ASEAN member states, only second to China.

With the guarantee of the mechanism, satisfying achievements have been gained in past years and praises was received from state leaders of ASEAN member states and China. At the 9thCAEXPO when Myanmar was the Country of Honor, then Myanmar President U Thein Sein said that CAEXPO has been playing a significant role in boosting Myanmar-China friendship and trade cooperation. “CAEXPO and CABIS has become a stable and successful platform for ASEANChina economic and trade exchanges and the development of CAFTA,” said Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, as the state leader with the most times of presence on CAEXPO.

Keep upgrading while staying true to original will

Ten years ago when the Country of Honor mechanism was set up, CAFTA was not established; nor was the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative and industrial capacity cooperation. Today, China-ASEAN cooperation has evolved from a golden decade into diamond decade when CAEXPO as an effective platform has upgraded timely to meet today’s diversifying demands. On such a basis, the Country of Honor mechanism has become richer in content.

Since 2015, CAEXPO itinerant exhibitions were successively held in Thailand and Vietnam. Such a new type of exhibition is more convenient for ASEAN business, especially for SMEs, to access opportunities to cooperate with China; meanwhile, the national image and investment environment of theme countries can presented in multiple perspectives and more concrete conditions. By active participation of media, a great many reports on theme countries and high-level offcials’ interviews were made to improve the visibility of CAEXPO worldwide.

Mr. Wang Lei, Secretary General of China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, introduced that CAEXPO itinerant exhibitions will be held annually in the theme country since 2017. On May 4-6, the CAEXPO (Brunei Exhibition) will kick off in Bandar Seri Begawan.

In addition, introduction conference for investment policy in ASEAN countries has been frstly held in Vietnam outside the conventionally fxed date for CAEXPO, which received much attention. The theme country is expected to acquire much more achievements with the extension of activity cycle.

Keep upgrading while staying true to original will. CAEXPO will as always serve as the promoter of China-ASEAN cooperation in all dimensions and adhere to the original will that every ASEAN member state can share the development dividends through joint consultation and convocation.

CAEXPO Country of Honor Mechanism: To Move on with a Decade-Long Successful Practice

Written by Li Min / Translated by Mao Yuye