英國駐渝總領事洪婷娜：“亞投行”為城市建設與高端醫(yī)療帶來更多支持

□ 文/本刊記者 李靜

英國駐渝總領事洪婷娜：“亞投行”為城市建設與高端醫(yī)療帶來更多支持

□ 文/本刊記者 李靜

記者：英國對于加入亞投行有著怎樣的考慮？

洪婷娜：英國對中國成立亞投行的決定表示歡迎。英國認識到在基礎設施方面的投資是亞洲地區(qū)的一個“短板”，亞投行的設立可以彌補這方面的不足，并促進亞洲乃至全球的經(jīng)濟增長。英國愿意與亞投行創(chuàng)始成員國一起，合作幫助亞投行發(fā)揮潛力，使其成為國際金融界的重要機構之一，并為亞洲地區(qū)的基礎設施投資增長而努力。

英國和中國有著共同的利益，而亞洲是全球經(jīng)濟增長最快的市場，英國政府希望積極推動與亞太地區(qū)各國之間的政治交往，促進亞洲地區(qū)的經(jīng)濟增長并惠及全球經(jīng)濟。我們相信，在創(chuàng)始階段加入亞投行將有利于英國和亞洲的共同增長，并從長遠利益上為英國公司創(chuàng)造更多投資機會。

記者：您認為英國在亞投行中將扮演一個怎樣的角色？

洪婷娜：英國擁有多年參與國際和區(qū)域性金融機構的經(jīng)驗，尤其是在像歐洲投資銀行這樣的、與亞投行期望的運營模式相類似的領域有著豐富的專業(yè)經(jīng)驗。更重要的是，英國愿意將基礎設施投資領域的豐富經(jīng)驗在亞投行所投資的區(qū)域里分享。

英國希望亞投行的管理規(guī)則健全、透明，確保亞投行的運營良好并符合全球慣例。我們欣慰地看到，中國政府在這一點上與英國已達成共識，也相信英國與其他創(chuàng)始國成員一起參與討論和制定規(guī)則能幫助亞投行更好地發(fā)展。

記者：您認為亞投行成立后將為英國與重慶之間的經(jīng)貿合作帶來怎樣的改變和影響？

洪婷娜：亞投行將極大地促進亞洲地區(qū)的基礎設施和金融投資服務，而英國在這些方面經(jīng)驗豐富，這將更有利于英國公司參與各種項目建設的競標。

英國一直處在參與亞洲發(fā)展的前沿，同時也是中國赴歐投資的熱點國家。過去5年間，中國對英國的直接投資每年有85%以上的增長。同時，中國是英國的第六大商品出口市場，英國也是歐洲對華第二大出口國。亞洲市場的繁榮符合英國的利益。

英國駐重慶總領事館一直以來重視英國與重慶之間的交流和合作。我館致力于向英國企業(yè)展示重慶巨大的市場和經(jīng)濟增長潛能。我和我的團隊致力于深化英國與中國西南地區(qū)的交流和商務合作。比如近期英國公司與重慶在綜合社區(qū)項目、智能城市和高端醫(yī)療項目有著緊密的合作。我相信，英國在亞投行創(chuàng)始階段的加入以及在亞投行關注的領域將為雙方在現(xiàn)有的合作項目上提供更多支持和幫助。

記者：英國總領事館在英國加入亞投行后，在推動英國與重慶之間的合作領域上將有怎樣的計劃？

洪婷娜：英國駐重慶總領事館將一如既往地積極加強兩地區(qū)的經(jīng)貿往來。通過組織商務代表團訪問、論壇、高層互訪和公眾推廣活動等來擴大英國和西南地區(qū)的經(jīng)貿合作，英國在創(chuàng)始階段加入亞投行將幫助英國更加活躍地參與到西南地區(qū)的基礎設施建設和城市化進程中去。

Question: What considerations does Britain have in ascension to AIIB?

Answer: Britain welcomes China’s decision to establish the AIIB as it recognizes that infrastructure investment is a “shortfall” in Asia and the bank can fill into the gap while promote Asian and global economic growth. Britain is willing to cooperate with AIIB founding members to tap into the potential of the bank and make it into one of the key institutions in the international financial world as well as strive for the growth of infrastructure investment in Asia.

Britain and China share common interests. Asia is the fastest growing market in the world. British government hopes to actively push forward political exchanges with Asian Pacific nations, enhances Asia’s economic growth and thus benefits the global economy. We believe that ascension to AIIB at the founding stage is conducive to common growth of both Britain and Asia and will create more investment opportunities to British companies in the long term.

Question: What roIe wiII Britain pIay in AIIB?

Answer: Britain has many years of experience to join international and regional financial institutions and rich specialized experience with fields like European Investment Bank, which is similar to the expected operation mode of AIIB. More importantly, Britain is willing to share our rich experience in infrastructure investment with AIIB in its invested areas.

Britain wishes AIIB to have complete and transparent administrative rules for sound operation and compliance to global practice. We are relieved to see that Chinese government has reached an agreement with Britain in this point and we believe a joint discussion and stipulation of rules with other founding members will help bettering the development of AIIB.

Question: What changes and infIuences wiII AIIB bring to the trade ties between Britain and Chongqing?

Answer: AIIB will greatly promote the infrastructure and financial investment services in Asia. Britain’s abundant experiences in these regards will facilitate its companies to bid for various project constructions.

Situated at the frontier of Asia’s development, Britain is also a popular choice for Chinese companies investing in Europe. Since the last five years, China’s direct investment to Britain grows by over 85% every year. Meanwhile, China is the sixth largest commodity export market for Britain, which is also the second largest European exporter to China. The market prosperity in Asia is aligned with our interests.

British Consulate General in Chongqing has been attaching great importance to the exchanges and cooperation between Britain and Chongqing all the time. We are here to exhibit the huge market and economic growth potential to British enterprises. My team and me are devoted to deepen exchanges and business partnerships between Britain and Southwestern China. I believe that Britain’s ascension to AIIB at its founding stage and the concerned areas of the bank will provide more support and assistance to our existing projects.

Question: After Britain joins AIIB, what pIans does British ConsuIate GeneraI have in pushing forward cooperative areas between your country and Chongqing?

Answer: Our Consulate General in Chongqing will, as we always did, proactively strengthen trade ties between the two regions. Through organizing business delegations, workshops, high-level mutual visits and pubic campaigns, we will expand Britain’s trade cooperation with Southwestern China. Our ascension into AIIB at the founding stage will help us to involve more in the infrastructure construction and urbanization drive of Southwestern China.

Tina Redshaw, British Consul General in Chongqing: AIIB Renders More Support to Urban Construction and High-end Health Care

□ Written by Li J ing