巴拿马驻沪总领事：中巴合作“新新”向荣

1854年，第一批华人劳工乘着“海巫号”帆船，远渡重洋抵达巴拿马，参与两洋铁路和巴拿马运河建设。这批华工多数来自中国南部的广州等地，工程结束后，他们大多选择留在当地。如今的巴拿马华裔中，有不少人祖籍是广州。如今，他们可以乘坐巴拿马到中国的直飞航班，更便捷地回到家乡。2018年4月，中国与巴拿马之间的首条直飞航线（北京—休斯顿—巴拿马城）正式开通。据巴拿马驻上海总领事沈理康(Nicolás Saval Zimmermann)介绍，未来，上海、广州都有望开通直飞巴拿马的航班。

Back in 1854, the first group of Chinese workers arrived in Panama aboard the ship “Sea Witch” to participate in the construction of the trans-Isthmus railway and, later on, the Panama Canal. Most of them were from the province of Guangdong; many stayed in the country after the construction works were completed. Thus, in today’s Panama, most of the Chinese living in the country initially hailed from southern China.

A direct flight route linking Panama and China therefore brings the descendants of these Chinese workers more convenience to visit their ancestral homeland. In April 2018, the first direct flight was launched between China and Panama (Beijing-Houston-Panama City). According to Nicolás Saval Zimmermann, Consul General of Panama in Shanghai, a direct flight from Shanghai to Panama and one from Guangzhou to Panama are also expected to open in the near future.

直航的开通，仅仅是2017年6月巴拿马宣布与中国建交以来，中巴人民享受的利好之一。在两年不到的时间里，中巴关系突飞猛进，两国签署的协议就有约47项。不间断的来往势必推动新合作，引领两国走向新繁荣。

The opening of the direct flight is only one of the benefits enjoyed by the Chinese and Panamanian people since the two countries established diplomatic relations in June 2017. In less than two years, the relationship has advanced by leaps and bounds, with about 47 agreements signed between the two countries. Exchanges in various ways will surely promote new cooperation and lead the two countries towards even greater levels of prosperity.

(巴拿马驻上海总领事沈理康向记者展示中国小朋友赠送的圣诞礼物 Nicolás Saval Zimmermann, Consul General of Panama in Shanghai, shows his Christmas gift given by a Chinese child.)

借建交东风，建信心交民心 Benefits of formal diplomatic and political relations

两国建交不久，中巴先后在对方首都设立大使馆，推动签证便利化，进一步密切人文交流。“最重要的一点是，两国建交为双方外交部建立了正式的沟通渠道，目前，我们可以在文化、经济、教育、金融等各领域开展更多、更正式的交流。”沈理康强调道。

Shortly after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China and Panama set up embassies in each other’s capital to facilitate cooperation in many fields, including visa application and boosting people-to-people exchanges. “More importantly, there is now a formal channel of communication between both countries’ ministries of foreign affairs. Now we can develop more exchanges in the realms of culture, the economy, education, finance, and many others. Most importantly is that now, this cooperation is in a formal way after the establishment of our diplomatic relationship,” stressed Mr. Saval Zimmermann.

外资企业在巴拿马享受和本国企业同等待遇，中国在巴企业数量逐年增加。目前，有13家中资跨国公司在巴开展业务，包括华为、中国港湾、中兴、中国建筑、中国铁建等。还有不少民营企业在世界第二大自由贸易区——科隆自由贸易区从事贸易。“两国外交关系的确立，让中资企业对投资巴拿马更有信心了。”巴拿马是中资企业在拉美投资兴业的门户，可以帮助联通中国与拉美其他地区。

As foreign enterprises enjoy the same treatment as domestic enterprises in Panama, the number of Chinese companies in Panama has increased on a yearly basis. Right now in Panama there are thirteen (13) multinational Chinese companies such as: Huawei, CHEC (China Harbour Engineering Company), ZTE, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and CRCC (China Railway Construction Corporation). Several Chinese private enterprises are trading in the Colón Free Trade Zone, the world's second-largest free trade zone.“Now because of this diplomatic relationship, Chinese companies feel more confident to invest in Panama.” The country can serve as the gateway to Latin America for Chinese companies.

巴拿马与中国的合作不仅体现在经济层面，在文化交流领域的进展也十分明显。今年1月，沈理康在江苏苏州参加了一场特殊的毕业典礼，33名巴拿马籍学生顺利从苏州百年职业学院毕业，加深了对中国文化的理解。他们是“巴拿马学生来苏中文学习项目”的首批毕业生。该项目是两国建交后首个高等教育合作项目，前来学习的52名学生是从3000多名申请者中精选而出，并获得巴拿马政府提供的全额奖学金。

The cooperation between Panama and China is not only reflected in the economic field, but also in the field of cultural exchanges. In January 2019, Mr. Saval Zimmermann witnessed a special graduation ceremony in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Thirty-three (33) Panamanian students successfully graduated from Suzhou Centennial College. They are the first group of graduates of the Chinese Language Study Program tailored for Panamanian Students. In fact, this is the first language education cooperation program launched by the two countries after the establishment of diplomatic relationships. A total of 52 students were selected from more than 3,000 applications and granted full scholarships from the Panamanian government.

(留学生在“巴拿马学生中文学业情况汇报会暨项目成果展示会”上表演书法。图片源于网络 Students perform Chinese calligraphy at the ceremony.)

(沈理康和学生交流互动。图片源于网络 Mr. Saval Zimmermann interacts with students.)

从零开始，书写更多“双城记” More tales of two cities

2018年4月，巴拿马在上海设立了在中国的首个总领事馆，管辖区除上海以外，还包括安徽、湖北、浙江、江西和江苏。这个机构很年轻，负责领事工作的沈理康是上海最年轻的总领事，他的团队平均年龄也只有35岁，意气风发，充满干劲。“上海是中国的重要城市。它是中国改革开放最好的例证之一。”坐在淮海中路的办公室，沈理康一边望向窗外，一边告诉我们：“从这里就可以看出，上海是中国的商业、金融、航运中心。所以，在这里开设第一个总领事馆具有重要意义。”

Panama opened its first consulate general in China in Shanghai in April 2018. Besides Shanghai, its jurisdiction covers Anhui, Hubei, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Jiangsu. Mr. Saval Zimmermann –the youngest Consul General in Shanghai, and his team, with an average age of 35, are full of enthusiasm.“Shanghai is an important city in China. It is the best example of China’s reform and opening up.” Sitting in his office located on Middle Huaihai Road, a popular commercial street in the city, he looked out of the window and tells us,“You can see outside. It is a very important city in commerce, finance, and maritime industry. In this regard, it was important for Panama to open its first consulate in this the city.”

除了筹备巴拿马和上海两地的高层互访、促进两地投资贸易、处理签证申请，总领事馆的另一大重要职责便是为船东提供巴拿马船籍的注册服务。总领事很自豪地说，“我们是中国唯一一家提供船运服务的总领事馆。”由于其所具备的竞争优势，巴拿马成为世界上最大的船旗注册国，全球超8000艘商船悬挂巴拿马旗。

In addition to coordinating high-level visits between Panama and Shanghai, promoting investment and trade between the two countries, and processing visa applications, another key responsibility of the Consulate is to provide ship-owners with registration services for ships under the Panamanian flag. The Consul General says, “We are the only consulate in China to provide shipping services.” Thanks to its competitive advantages, Panama has the largest ship registry in the world, with more than 8,000 merchant ships flying Panama’s flag.

沈理康还透露，以上海为起点，广州、香港也会先后开设总领事馆。这意味着，巴拿马在中国的外交足迹将越来越广。

The Consul General also mentions that two more consulate generals will be set up in Guangzhou and Hong Kong in the near future, meaning that Panama is going to have even more presence in China.

由于是新设立的总领事馆，一切都要从零开始，但这也意味着，巴拿马可以和上海探索各种合作的可能。航运物流、金融服务、科隆自贸区和旅游业是巴经济的四大支柱。和上海相似，巴拿马首都巴拿马城临近海边，拥有世界级的港口和物流设施，重视航运发展，并且是一个重要的金融服务中心，金融业发达。通过共享信息、互学互鉴，沈理康认为，两市之间可以有很大的合作空间。

As a new consulate here in Shanghai, everything began from zero, but that also means that many possibilities for cooperation with Shanghai can be explored. Shipping and logistic sector, financial services, the Colón Free Trade Zone and tourism are the four pillars of Panama’s economy. Similar to Shanghai, the City of Panama is close to the sea, has world-class ports and logistic infrastructure, and values the shipping industry. It is also an important financial service hub with a prosperous industry. By sharing knowhow and learning from each other, Mr. Saval believes that there is potential for a lot of cooperation for the future of the two cities in many aspects.

中巴建交为密切两市关系、加强双方合作交流创造了历史性的机遇。2018年7月，在上海市委书记李强和巴拿马城市长布兰顿的见证下，两市签署了友好合作交流意向书。

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Panama has created a historic opportunity for bringing the two cities closer and strengthening their cooperation and exchanges. In July 2018, with the presence of Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang and Panama City Mayor Jose Blandon, the two cities signed a “Letter of Intent for Friendly Exchange and Cooperation”.

值得期待的是，受巴拿马城之邀，上海将在新春之际在巴拿马城举办“欢乐春节”文化交流活动。恰好要回国度假的沈理康对此表示十分期待。“华人在巴拿马人口中占比很高，这样的交流活动不仅能让华人重温中华传统文化，也可以为巴拿马国民带来全新的文化体验。”

This February, at the invitation of Panama City, Shanghai will hold a “Happy Chinese New Year” cultural exchange program in Panama City. Mr. Saval, who plans to go back to his hometown for a holiday during that time, says that he is very much looking forward to the program. “The Chinese population in Panama is very important. Therefore, having cultural exchanges from Shanghai to Panama will first of all allow Chinese-Panamanians to enjoy, once again, all the tradition of their cultures, and for Panamanians to experience new ways of cultural exchange.”

(沈理康祝愿上海以及全国各地的朋友们新春快乐，2019年诸事大吉。Mr. Saval Zimmermann wishes people in Shanghai and other Chinese cities a happy and successful Chinese New Year of the Pig.)

包容普惠：中巴两国共同愿景 Common vision of both countries

2018年11月，上海举办了首届中国国际进口博览会。巴拿马参展商和机构为此精心筹备，重点展示了水果、海鲜、咖啡等产品，有5家公司与中国企业达成了对华出口协议。“有很多参展商之前都不了解中国市场。进博会对他们很重要，让他们获得了进入中国市场的第一手经验。参展后，他们对中国市场充满信心。”沈理康表示，“我们今年还会参展，参展面积也会扩大。”

In November 2018, Shanghai hosted the first China International Import Expo (CIIE). It took Panama a lot of time to prepare for the import fair, showcasing fruits, seafood, coffee and other products. Five Panamanian companies reached an export agreement with their Chinese partners. “Many of them did not know about the Chinese market. The fair was a good opportunity for them to get first-hand experience about the Chinese market. At the end of the fair, they felt really confident. We’re going to participate in this event in 2019. Hopefully we will have a bigger space here in Shanghai.”

在进博会开幕式上，中国国家主席习近平明确提出了坚持包容普惠、推动共同发展的主张。沈理康指出，这也是巴拿马总统巴雷拉的愿景。“这个政策的中心实际上是人。世界各国都应该以追求人类的福祉为目标。”

At the opening ceremony of the CIIE, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will stick to inclusiveness and seeking mutual benefit and common development. “The vision of openness and inclusiveness of China is a shared vision with our President Juan Carlos Varela,” says Mr. Saval. Moreover, “the center of this policy is actually the human being. All the countries in the world should pursue the wellbeing of humans.”

谈到中国经济的对外开放，沈理康认为这是一个积极的决策。“对巴拿马来说，它为两国之间的商业交流创造了机会。时间将证明，中国扩大对外开放的政策将会取得更好的发展。”

Mr. Saval Zimmermann also believes China’s further opening up is a positive decision. “For Panama, it generates opportunities for new commercial exchange between both countries. We agree on the policy, and this will get even better with the passing years.”

2019年巴拿马将迎来大选，但沈理康强调，中巴关系依然会在新政府的国家议程中。“中巴外交是建立在相互尊重、相互信任的基础上，我们希望这些原则和价值观仍然是两国外交关系的基石。”这一年也是新中国成立70周年，新时代中国外交将继续坚持相互尊重、合作共赢，使中巴关系实现“弯道超车、后来居上”。

This year Panama will celebrate elections, but according to Mr. Saval Zimmermann, China-Panama relations will remain on the agenda and transcend future government administrations. “The diplomatic relations between China and Panama were established with mutual respect and trust, and we want these principles and values to remain as the foundation of our diplomatic relations.” This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China; in this context, China will stick to “mutual respect and win-win cooperation” in its diplomacy and seize the momentum to speed up the growth of China-Panama relations.

Story by Wu Qiong

Video by Xu Yiran