英国驻渝总领事洪婷娜：“亚投行”为城市建设与高端医疗带来更多支持

□ 文/本刊记者 李静

英国驻渝总领事洪婷娜：“亚投行”为城市建设与高端医疗带来更多支持

□ 文/本刊记者 李静

记者：英国对于加入亚投行有着怎样的考虑？

洪婷娜：英国对中国成立亚投行的决定表示欢迎。英国认识到在基础设施方面的投资是亚洲地区的一个“短板”，亚投行的设立可以弥补这方面的不足，并促进亚洲乃至全球的经济增长。英国愿意与亚投行创始成员国一起，合作帮助亚投行发挥潜力，使其成为国际金融界的重要机构之一，并为亚洲地区的基础设施投资增长而努力。

英国和中国有着共同的利益，而亚洲是全球经济增长最快的市场，英国政府希望积极推动与亚太地区各国之间的政治交往，促进亚洲地区的经济增长并惠及全球经济。我们相信，在创始阶段加入亚投行将有利于英国和亚洲的共同增长，并从长远利益上为英国公司创造更多投资机会。

记者：您认为英国在亚投行中将扮演一个怎样的角色？

洪婷娜：英国拥有多年参与国际和区域性金融机构的经验，尤其是在像欧洲投资银行这样的、与亚投行期望的运营模式相类似的领域有着丰富的专业经验。更重要的是，英国愿意将基础设施投资领域的丰富经验在亚投行所投资的区域里分享。

英国希望亚投行的管理规则健全、透明，确保亚投行的运营良好并符合全球惯例。我们欣慰地看到，中国政府在这一点上与英国已达成共识，也相信英国与其他创始国成员一起参与讨论和制定规则能帮助亚投行更好地发展。

记者：您认为亚投行成立后将为英国与重庆之间的经贸合作带来怎样的改变和影响？

洪婷娜：亚投行将极大地促进亚洲地区的基础设施和金融投资服务，而英国在这些方面经验丰富，这将更有利于英国公司参与各种项目建设的竞标。

英国一直处在参与亚洲发展的前沿，同时也是中国赴欧投资的热点国家。过去5年间，中国对英国的直接投资每年有85%以上的增长。同时，中国是英国的第六大商品出口市场，英国也是欧洲对华第二大出口国。亚洲市场的繁荣符合英国的利益。

英国驻重庆总领事馆一直以来重视英国与重庆之间的交流和合作。我馆致力于向英国企业展示重庆巨大的市场和经济增长潜能。我和我的团队致力于深化英国与中国西南地区的交流和商务合作。比如近期英国公司与重庆在综合社区项目、智能城市和高端医疗项目有着紧密的合作。我相信，英国在亚投行创始阶段的加入以及在亚投行关注的领域将为双方在现有的合作项目上提供更多支持和帮助。

记者：英国总领事馆在英国加入亚投行后，在推动英国与重庆之间的合作领域上将有怎样的计划？

洪婷娜：英国驻重庆总领事馆将一如既往地积极加强两地区的经贸往来。通过组织商务代表团访问、论坛、高层互访和公众推广活动等来扩大英国和西南地区的经贸合作，英国在创始阶段加入亚投行将帮助英国更加活跃地参与到西南地区的基础设施建设和城市化进程中去。

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