英国驻重庆总领事李遥：在重庆的每一天都是新的

杨艳 黄仪

Anthony Preston, British Consul-General in Chongqing: Each Day a New Day Living in Chongqing

By Yang Yan and Huang Yi/The World and Chongqing

Profile  ：

Anthony Preston, 46 years old, has worked as an English teacher and reporter who likes traveling, music, diving, and modern Asian history. As a foreigner residing in Sichuan, he can speak idiomatic Sichuan and Chongqing dialects like “要得” (“Yao De”, meaning “OK”) and “對头” (“Dui Tou”, meaning “Yes”), and can understand the famous Sichuan-Chongqing meme of “蜀道山” (“Shu Dao Shan”, meaning “On the count of three”).

“‘李(Li) brings Chinese friends an intimate feeling just like that with their families, while ‘遥 (Yao) means coming from a distant place.” Anthony Preston illustrates the meaning of his Chinese name like this.

人物名片：

李遥，46岁，当过英文老师、做过记者，喜欢旅行、音乐、潜水和现代亚洲历史。四川女婿，能说“要得”“对头”等地道川渝方言，还能听懂川渝名梗“蜀道山”。

“‘李能让中国朋友觉得很亲近，就像家人一样；‘遥表示来自远方。”李遥这样理解他中文名字的意义。

“A familiar and comfortable life in Chongqing”

“People in both Chongqing and London share a profound connection with water because their history and culture have been affected by the two cities geographical locations and the rivers going through the city.” His hometown is a small town on the river bank of the Thames. Nowadays, he feels familiar and comfortable living in Chongqing surrounded by two rivers, namely the Yangtze River and the Jialing River.

Anthony Preston likes riding the ferry in Chongqing very much to enjoy the scenery in different places and would take photos of interesting discoveries with his mobile phone at any time. For him, each day living in Chongqing means a new day. He is curious about the city, trying to visit somewhere new, experiencing something new, and meeting someone new.

He has left his footsteps in the Flea Market, Zhongshan 4th Road, Luohan Temple, and Baiheliang Underwater Museum. He also likes eating Chongqing Noodles very much. Anthony Preston has recorded all of those in a vlog. “Chongqing skyline has changed quite a lot. But some things have remained the same - the combination of modern and historical, the combination of city and forest, and I think, obviously, the spirit of the Chongqing people has remained the same throughout.”

“Very pleased to see the continuing friendship between Chongqing and Leicester as sister cities”

As the sunset casts its glow over the Jialing River, the mountain-water landscape unique to Chongqing will hide nowhere if you look across the river to Jiangbeizui from Hongyadong. Anthony Preston chooses this location for a media interview to explain his familiarity and fondness for Chongqing.

Anthony Preston came to Chongqing in 2000 for the first time, and he now feels a deep sense of familiarity and anticipation as he returns to the city he loves to fulfill his duties after so many years.

“In recent days, I visited the Chongqing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office where we discussed Chongqings rapid development and its pivotal role in building the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-Hub Mega-Region and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. We exchanged opinions on the contributions made by British organizations in Chongqing to support local development in various fields such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, culture, green finance, etc.” Anthony Preston expressed his enjoyment and anticipation for his new job, which promises to be busy and filled with challenges.

“Chongqing boasts an advantageous geographical location and has become increasingly strategic and strategically important to Chinas national government efforts.” Anthony Preston is deeply aware of it.

Chongqing and Leicester in the U.K. became international friendship cities in October 1993. “At the end of 2023, the delegation of the Chongqing Municipal Government visited Leicester and discussed collaboration in a number of areas, including education and the medical side. Chongqing University and the University of Leicester are developing collaborations in those areas, too. So, the strong foundations and a lot to build on.” Anthony Preston is very pleased to see the continuing friendship between Chongqing and Leicester as “sister cities”.

“Unlimited potential to cooperate and develop with Chongqing”

Since its establishment in 2000, the British Consulate-General in Chongqing has fostered a wide range of friendship and cooperation. Anthony Preston said British companies such as INEOS, Savills, Jardine Matheson, Harrow, and GKN have come to Chongqing and achieved success. British companies have also played a significant role in designing landmark buildings such as the Raffles City Chongqing, Chongqing Industrial Museum, and TESTBED2. In terms of education, Chongqing is home to two British-style schools: Harrow LiDe School and Lucton School, which offer families in Chongqing more choices for international education.

Regarding Chongqings opening up and exchanges and cooperation, Anthony Preston said the British Consulate-General in Chongqing will continue to further the cooperation between Chongqing and the U.K. in education, healthcare, creative industries, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure. The Consulate-General aims to gain a more precise understanding of Chongqings policies and business environment to facilitate broader cooperation across various sectors. It is believed that there is unlimited potential to cooperate and develop with Chongqing.

“Both the U.K. and China are playing a lead role in the world in science, technology, and innovation (STI), green energy, and climate change, and we are also cooperating in these fields.” Anthony Preston said, “In terms of exchanges on culture and arts, many British cultural offerings have been brought to Chongqing. Last year, the West End Smash Hit Musical Love Never Dies was performed at the Chongqing Grand Theater, and new programs will be launched gradually in Chongqing throughout the year.”

“在重慶生活亲切又舒适”

“重庆和伦敦在历史、文化等方面都受到城市地理位置和穿城而过的河流影响，两座城市的人都对水有着特殊情结。”泰晤士河畔的一座小城是李遥的家乡。如今，在两江环抱的重庆生活，他感到亲切又舒适。

李遥非常喜欢在重庆坐轮渡，去不同的地方欣赏风景，随时用手机拍下有趣的发现。在他看来，在重庆的每一天都是新的。他对这座城市充满好奇，每天都在尝试去新的地方、体验新的东西、结识新的人。

董家溪跳蚤市场、中山四路、罗汉寺、白鹤梁水下博物馆……都留下了他的足迹，他还超级喜欢吃重庆小面。李遥把这一切都拍成了vlog,“从过去到现在，重庆的城市天际线发生着变化。但有些东西从未改变，比如，这座城市现代与历史的融合，城市与森林的交融。最重要的是，重庆人民的精神一直没有改变。”

“非常高兴看到重庆与莱斯特保持着‘姐妹城市的友好关系”

夕阳洒满嘉陵江，从洪崖洞远眺江对岸的江北嘴，重庆独特的山水风景一览无余。李遥选择在这里接受媒体采访，讲述他对重庆的熟悉和喜爱。

2000年，李遥第一次来到重庆，时隔多年后再回到喜爱的城市履职，他倍感亲切，充满期待。

“近日，我拜访了重庆市政府外办，讨论了重庆正在经历的快速发展，及其在成渝地区双城经济圈和陆海新通道建设方面发挥的关键作用。就英国驻渝机构为支持重庆发展起到的积极作用交换了意见，这些领域涉及教育、医疗、基础设施、文化、绿色金融等。”李遥表示，他非常喜欢并向往忙碌和充满挑战的新工作。

“重庆地理位置优越，就国家政策层面而言，战略地位也越来越重要。”对此，李遥深有体会。

1993年10月，重庆市与英国莱斯特市缔结国际友好城市。“2023年末，重庆市政府代表团访问莱斯特市，并就教育和医疗行业的合作项目展开探讨。重庆大学和莱斯特大学也进行了深入合作。双方有非常坚实的合作基础，相信今后我们还会取得更多的合作成果。”李遥非常高兴看到两市保持着“姐妹城市”的友好关系。

“与重庆合作发展潜力无限”

英国驻重庆总领事馆自2000年设立以来，与重庆建立了广泛的友好合作关系。李遥介绍，英力士、第一太平戴维斯、怡和、哈罗、吉凯恩等英国企业来渝发展并取得了成功。重庆来福士广场、工业博物馆、鹅岭贰厂等地标建筑的设计，有英国公司的深度参与。在教育领域，重庆有哈罗礼德学校和莱克顿学校两所英式教育学校，为重庆家庭提供了更多国际教育选择。

谈及重庆对外开放和交流合作，李遥表示，英国驻重庆总领事馆将继续深化英国和重庆在教育、医疗健康、创意产业、先进制造业、基础设施建设等领域的合作，更准确地了解重庆的政策和商业环境，寻求更多领域的携手。相信与重庆合作发展潜力无限。

“比如，科技创新领域，绿色能源和气候变化领域，英国和中国在全球处于领先地位，这方面我们也有一些项目正在开展合作。”李遥介绍，在文化艺术交流方面，英国不少文化项目落地重庆。比如，去年在重庆大剧院演出的英文原版音乐剧《剧院魅影续作：真爱永恒》，今年也将有新的项目陆续在重庆推出。