楊艷

On February 22 in Chongqing， the sun was shining brightly with gentle breeze. Dr. Jan Hoogmartens and his delegation arrived in Chongqing and stood on the square of the Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery， looking into the distance at the overlapping mountains， high-rising buildings， and the convergence of two rivers. As Ambassador Dr. Jan Hoogmartens gazed at the bustle and hustle of the city， he marveled at the magnificent urban landscape and suggested capturing his trip to Chongqing with a camera so as to always remember the stunning view.

25 Years Passed After His Last Visit to Chongqing

This was his trip to Chongqing again after 25 years. He carefully listened to the introductions of the Exhibition Gallery featuring natural landscapes， historical culture， overall planning， “one central urban area and two town clusters”， and urban renewal， among others. Then， he wrote a message： Chongqing has developed marvelously well！ Congratulations！

“25 years ago， I paid a visit to Chongqing for tourism. At that time， I was a student at the University of Hong Kong， a good opportunity to explore Chinas provinces and cities. Now， the only place I can still recognize is Peoples Hotel （Chongqing Peoples Auditorium Hotel）”， said Dr. Jan Hoogmartens.

Chongqing and Antwerp

In October 2011， Chongqing and Antwerp signed an agreement for sister relationship. In December 2021， the 10th Anniversary of the Chongqing-Antwerp Sister Relationship was commemorated through a video conference where economic， trade， and cultural exchanges were discussed. The two sides signed the Intention Letter on Further Deepening Cooperation between Chongqing Municipality and Antwerp Province.

The last decade has seen multiple high-level mutual visits， and vibrant economic， trade， cultural， and people-to-people exchanges. The quality resources and platforms have been fully leveraged to promote consultation and cooperation. Antwerp has participated in major international conferences and events such as Smart China Expo and Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade for four consecutive years. Chongqing also sent delegations to Antwerp for international exchange activities including Antwerp Forum， and Industrial Matchmaking.

During his stay in Chongqing， Dr. Jan Hoogmartens attended China （Chongqing）-Belgium Business & Economy Seminar held by Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government where he witnessed the signing ceremony between Dadi International Life Science Park of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area and Science Park of University of Antwerp. He also went to Yuzhong District， Chongqing University， Seres Smart Factory， and Porton Pharma Solutions.

“I think Chongqing and Antwerp have something in common. Both cities are important logistics hubs. Besides， Antwerp is a major region for the pharmaceutical industry， biotechnology， and bioengineering. And we wish to enhance our cooperation with Chongqing in these fields，” said Dr. Jan Hoogmartens.

Potato： A “Golden Bridge” Between Chongqing and Belgium

24 years ago， a little potato helped sow a seed of friendship. Now， the potato has transformed its task from saving lives and a surviving food to a food that brings in prosperity. It has witnessed the profound international friendship between the peoples of China and Belgium.

On February 23， Dr. Jan Hoogmartens， at the China （Chongqing） – Belgium Agricultural Cooperation Exchange Meeting， recalled the courses and results of the potato projects with the guests， and one picture after another refreshed their collective memory.

The cooperation dates back to 1999 between the Wuxi County of Chongqing and Belgium in potato cultivation and quality control. In 2009， with the help of the Center for Agronomy and Agro-Industry of the Province of Hainaut in Belgium （CARAH）， Wuxi introduced the warning model for potato late blight， which is still in use today. Chinese and Belgian experts join hands to explore multiple technologies， such as the warning model for potato late blight， high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation， and potato seed breeding， a move that benefits the peoples of China and Belgium.

“The potato builds a ‘golden bridge between Belgium and Chongqing. Thats the concrete progress made through our joint efforts as well as the friendship and cooperation between Chongqing and Belgium. It also sets a fine example of talents exchanges，” said Dr. Jan Hoogmartens.

Playing Symphony in Chinese

When the evening lights were lit， the music is melodious in the Chongqing Guotai Art Center， where Peter Ritzen， a Belgian musician， was playing his symphony， Love for China. The inspiration for this symphony is from the Song The Boxwood Shoulder-Pole， a Chongqing folk song. Love for China features the musical elements of Chongqing folk songs， like gongs and drums， and gives insights into a poetic mountain city in the eyes of Peter Ritzen.

“Peter Ritzen is an outstanding pianist， conductor， and composer. This time I attend his world premiere， and in my opinion， Chongqing will be proud of this premiere，” said Dr. Jan Hoogmartens in the auditorium， panting for more.

“With the reopening of borders， I wish the officials， scholars， and tourists of China and Belgium will have more face-to-face contacts，” said the Ambassador of Belgium in an interview.

Source/Official WeChat Account of Chongqing Foreign Affairs

2月22日，春日重慶陽(yáng)光正好，時(shí)有微風(fēng)。比利時(shí)駐華大使高洋一行抵渝，站在重慶市規(guī)劃展覽館廣場(chǎng)，遠(yuǎn)眺山巒疊起，高樓林立，兩江匯流。眼前的城市一派繁忙景象，興致高昂的高洋大使提出，以山水之城為背景，用鏡頭定格他重慶之行的首站。

25年后再次來(lái)到重慶

這是高洋大使25年后再次來(lái)到重慶，在認(rèn)真聽(tīng)取了展覽館中自然山水、歷史人文、總體規(guī)劃、一區(qū)兩群、城市更新等特色展廳內(nèi)容介紹后，他寫(xiě)下留言；“重慶的發(fā)展令人贊嘆！祝賀！”

“25年前我來(lái)重慶是休閑旅游，那時(shí)我還是學(xué)生，正在香港大學(xué)學(xué)習(xí)，這給了我一個(gè)很好的機(jī)會(huì)，去探索發(fā)現(xiàn)中國(guó)的許多城市?，F(xiàn)在我唯一能認(rèn)出來(lái)的就是人民賓館（現(xiàn)重慶大禮堂酒店）。”高洋大使說(shuō)。

重慶與安特衛(wèi)普結(jié)緣

2011年10月，重慶市與比利時(shí)安特衛(wèi)普省正式簽署建立友城關(guān)系協(xié)議。2021年12月，重慶與安特衛(wèi)普建立友城關(guān)系十周年紀(jì)念暨經(jīng)貿(mào)人文合作交流會(huì)，通過(guò)視頻方式在兩地同時(shí)舉行，雙方簽署《重慶市與安特衛(wèi)普省進(jìn)一步深化合作意向書(shū)》。

過(guò)去十余年，兩地高層多次互訪、經(jīng)貿(mào)及人文交流活躍，充分利用雙方優(yōu)質(zhì)平臺(tái)資源共商共促合作。安特衛(wèi)普連續(xù)4年參加智博會(huì)、西洽會(huì)等在渝舉行的重要國(guó)際會(huì)議活動(dòng)。重慶多次組團(tuán)參加安特衛(wèi)普主辦的安特衛(wèi)普論壇、產(chǎn)業(yè)對(duì)接等國(guó)際交流活動(dòng)。

此次訪渝，高洋大使出席了重慶市政府外辦主辦的中國(guó)（重慶）—比利時(shí)經(jīng)貿(mào)產(chǎn)業(yè)交流會(huì)；見(jiàn)證重慶兩江新區(qū)大地（國(guó)際）生命科學(xué)園與安特衛(wèi)普大學(xué)科技園簽署合作意向書(shū)；訪問(wèn)渝中區(qū)和重慶大學(xué)；參觀賽力斯智慧工廠、博騰制藥。

高洋大使說(shuō)：“我認(rèn)為重慶和安特衛(wèi)普之間有相似之處，都是非常重要的物流中心。安特衛(wèi)普是制藥工業(yè)、生物技術(shù)和生物工程的一個(gè)重要地區(qū)，我們希望在這方面加強(qiáng)和重慶的合作?！?/p>

土豆在重慶與比利時(shí)之間架起一座“金橋”

24年前，一顆小小馬鈴薯播下友誼的種子。馬鈴薯完成了從救命薯、溫飽薯到致富薯、小康薯的蛻變，見(jiàn)證著中比兩國(guó)人民間深厚的國(guó)際友誼。

2月23日，在中國(guó)（重慶）—比利時(shí)農(nóng)業(yè)合作交流會(huì)上，高洋大使同與會(huì)嘉賓一起回顧了馬鈴薯項(xiàng)目合作歷程和成果，一幅幅畫(huà)面串聯(lián)起大家的共同記憶。

早在1999年，重慶巫溪縣就與比利時(shí)在馬鈴薯栽培技術(shù)、質(zhì)量控制等領(lǐng)域開(kāi)展合作。2009年，巫溪縣從比利時(shí)埃諾省農(nóng)業(yè)工程應(yīng)用中心引進(jìn)了馬鈴薯晚疫病預(yù)警模型，并沿用至今。兩國(guó)專(zhuān)家共同探索的馬鈴薯晚疫病預(yù)警、高產(chǎn)高效栽培、優(yōu)質(zhì)種薯繁育等系列成熟技術(shù)，正造福著兩國(guó)人民。

高洋大使說(shuō)，“土豆在比利時(shí)和重慶之間架起了一座‘金橋，這是大家共同努力取得的實(shí)實(shí)在在的進(jìn)步。這得益于重慶和比利時(shí)之間的友好合作，是重慶和比利時(shí)之間優(yōu)秀人才交流一個(gè)很好的例子?！?/p>

讓交響樂(lè)說(shuō)“中國(guó)話”

華燈初上，重慶國(guó)泰藝術(shù)中心劇場(chǎng)樂(lè)聲悠揚(yáng)，比利時(shí)音樂(lè)家彼德·利茲創(chuàng)作的大型交響樂(lè)《愛(ài)·中華》精彩上演。其靈感來(lái)源于重慶民歌《黃楊扁擔(dān)》，吸收了川劇鑼鼓等巴渝民間音樂(lè)元素，講述作曲家眼中的詩(shī)意重慶。

“彼德·利茲是一位出色的鋼琴家、指揮家和作曲家。這次我參加了他的全球首次公演音樂(lè)會(huì)，我認(rèn)為重慶也會(huì)為這場(chǎng)首次公演的音樂(lè)會(huì)而感到驕傲?！庇^眾席中的高洋大使意猶未盡。

“我非常希望隨著出入境的重新開(kāi)放，兩國(guó)的官員、學(xué)者，以及游客能夠有更多面對(duì)面的接觸。”高洋大使在接受媒體專(zhuān)訪時(shí)說(shuō)。

文/重慶外事微信公眾號(hào)