Europeans looking to Belt and Road forum to deepen dialogue 欧洲意见领袖盼一带一路高峰论坛深化交流

By Fu Jing (China Daily), April 25, 2017

The newly built “Silk Road Golden Bridge” in Beijing Olympic Park gets its lights tested on April 18, 2017, in preparation for the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that will be held from May 14 to 15.

北京奥林匹克公园新建的“丝绸之路金桥”于2017年4月18日进行了灯光测试，为即将于5月14日至15日举行的“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛做好准备。

As the highly-anticipated Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing approaches, many Europe-based China observers are thinking of using the May 14-15 forum to deepen dialogue and exchanges, and institutionalize the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) proposed by President Xi Jinping more than three years ago.

随着举世瞩目的“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛即将在北京召开，许多欧洲的中国观察家正在思考通过5月14日至15日的论坛来深化对话与交流，并将习近平主席3年前提出的“一带一路”倡议（“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”）制度化。

Out of the 28 state leaders who have confirmed their participation in the forum, which is aimed at improving connectivity among Asia, Europe and Africa, more than 10 will be from Europe. Due to domestic elections, the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany will not be able to attend the forum but they will send high-level officials to join the discussions.

现有28国领导人已确认出席本次以提升亚欧非之间连通性为主旨的“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛。其中，来自欧洲的领导人达10人以上。 由于国内大选的原因，英国、法国以及德国的领导人将无法出席，但他们将派遣高层官员参加论坛。

Recent talks with China experts in Europe show they understand the significance of the forum. Some Europeans have even compared it with the annual G20 summit, a platform set up in 2008 to mainly facilitate global macroeconomic policy coordination among the world’s 20 largest economies.

近期与欧洲的中国问题专家的会谈表明，他们对论坛的重要意义十分明晰。 一些欧洲专家还将其与G20峰会作比较。G20峰会是2008年成立的平台，主要致力于促进全世界20个最大经济体之间全球宏观政策的协调。

Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, a business-led international association in Brussels, said the Belt and Road Initiative reminds him of the connection between the ancient Silk Road and his own country, Italy. He is ready to organize a Silk Road seminar in Rome next week before leaving for Beijing to attend the forum.

中欧数字协会主席鲁乙己表示，“一带一路”倡议让他想到了古代丝绸之路与自己的国家意大利之间的联系。在动身去北京参加论坛之前，他将于下星期在罗马组织召开丝绸之路研讨会。

He also plans to propose that next year’s Belt and Road forum be organized in Venice, Italy. Historically, he said, Venice was closely linked to China’s ancient Silk Road. Explorer Marco Polo (1254-1324), an Italian who “introduced” China to Europe, was from Venice. And Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni will attend the Beijing forum.

他还准备提议明年的“一带一路”论坛在意大利威尼斯举办。 从历史角度来讲，他谈到，威尼斯与中国古代的丝绸之路密切相关。 探索者马可波罗（1254-1324），这个将中国“介绍”给欧洲的人，就来自意大利的威尼斯。 今年意大利总理Paolo Gentiloni也将出席这次北京的高峰论坛。

Among those Europeans who have closely observed China’s development, Gambardella said European countries should pay attention and offer political goodwill to Chinese initiatives, which aim to boost the flows of capital, technology, human resources and even tourists. Italy should shoulder the responsibility because of its historical links with China through the old Silk Road.

作为密切关注中国发展的欧洲人，鲁乙己说，欧洲国家应该对中国的倡议给予关注和政治上的亲善， 因为一带一路的目标是增加资本、技术、人力资源乃至游客的流动。 意大利因其在古代丝绸之路上与中国建立的历史性联系更应当肩负起责任。

Jan Kohout, adviser to Czech Republic President Milos Zeman, who himself will attend the May forum, has a different view. Kohout, former Czech foreign minister and founder of the Prague-based New Silk Road Institute, said his country has already built a “political highway” with China, and the most important thing is to identify partners and implement the various deals.

将亲自出席5月高峰论坛的捷克共和国总统Milos Zeman的顾问Jan Kohout则有不同的观点。 Kohout先生是前捷克外交部长，也是布拉格新丝绸之路研究所的创始人。他表示，他的国家已经与中国建立起了“政治高速路”，现在最重要的是明确合作伙伴并展开各项交易。

Kohout suggested that the high-level political forum be organized every two or three years but it is important that every country of the dozens which have agreed to join the Belt and Road Initiative assign a dedicated coordinator for the purpose. And a meeting of all the coordinators should be organized every year.

Kohout建议每两年或三年组织一次这样的高级别政治论坛。已加入“一带一路”倡议的每个国家应为此设立专门的协调员。每年组织一次协调员全体会议。

Raising another important point, Kohout said the initiative should eventually become a two-way platform to link China and the rest of the world. Taking his country as example, he said many investors from the Czech Republic are also keen on exploring opportunities in China.

Kohout还特别指出，该倡议最终将成为连接中国与世界其他地区的双向平台。 以他的国家为例，捷克的许多投资者就十分热衷于探索中国的机会。

Dimitris Bourantonis, deputy rector of Athens University of Economics and Business, echoed Gambardella’s view, saying the Belt and Road forum should be institutionalized and the presidency rotated every year. Greece is an active supporter of the initiative, and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will be among the state leaders present at the Beijing forum.

雅典经济与商业大学副校长Dimitris Bourantonis则响应了鲁乙己的看法，他说，一带一路论坛应该制度化，实行每年轮值主席制。 希腊也是该倡议的积极支持者，希腊总理Alexis Tsipras将是出席北京“一带一路”高端论坛的国家领导人之一。

As a new event in global governance, Bourantonis said there is need to establish a permanent secretariat for the Belt and Road forum to coordinate regional development, which is the essence of the initiative.

作为全球治理的大事，Bourantonis认为“一带一路”论坛应设立常设秘书处，以协调区域发展，实现该倡议的重要意义。

China has always said that, although the initiative is its proposal, it is for all participants. So it is therefore important to listen to suggestions and ideas of every country that has joined the initiative, in order to facilitate efficient dialogue and exchange platforms.

中国一直表示，“一带一路”不只是中国自己的议案，也是为所有参与国提出的倡议。 因此，听取加入这一倡议的每个国家的意见和想法就显得极为重要，只有这样才能很好地促进有效的对话和交流平台。

European opinion leaders have already started their brain-storming. And their contribution is essential for the success of the Beijing forum.

欧洲意见领袖的头脑风暴已经开始。 他们的贡献对于“一带一路”高端论坛的成功将起到至关重要的作用。

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