On 21 August 2017, the Evening Standard and its website published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled “Chinese investment in the UK is an opportunity not a threat”. The full text is as follows:文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
2017年8月21日，英国主流媒体《旗帜晚报》在纸质版和网络版同时刊登刘晓明大使题为《中国投资对英国是机遇不是威胁》的署名文章。全文如下：文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
Chinese Investment in the UK is an Opportunity Not a Threat文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
中国投资对英国是机遇不是威胁文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
Britain is known to be liberal and open to foreign trade and investment. But these days in the British media we see another picture – a confusing mixture of paranoia about so-called threats of Chinese investment to UK’s national security, of exaggerations about China’s appetite to buy out Britain, and of talks about protection against investment from China. All these are both groundless and harmful.文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
英国是全球对贸易和投资最开放、最自由的大国之一。然而近一时期，英国媒体上有关“中国投资威胁论”的论调不绝于耳，一些人担心“中国买断英国”，渲染中国投资威胁英国安全，甚至主张采取“贸易与投资保护主义”措施限制中国投资。我认为这种论调不仅是站不住脚的，也是有害的。文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/3469.html
First, the Chinese investment in the UK is mutually beneficial and win-win for both countries. So far, $18 billion of Chinese non-financial investment has come into a wide range of sectors here in this country. From infrastructure and equipment manufacturing to hi-tech, new energy and financial services, Chinese investment is creating new jobs, generating green, low carbon growth and bringing economic prosperity and stability.
The Hinkley Point project partly financed by the Chinese company CGN, for example, is expected to create 26,000 jobs and, upon completion, reduce nine million tons of carbon emission every year. The £250 million auto plant in Coventry built by China’s Geely Group will roll out a new generation of zero-emission cabs onto the streets of London by 2018.
The ABP Royal Albert Dock project brings in £1.7 billion of Chinese investment. This urban complex of offices, homes and retail commerce will give London its third business and financial district and drive the development of east London. Other major Chinese investors, such as Huawei and Wanda, are increasing their investment here and, in doing so, casting a vote of confidence in UK’s future.
首先，中国对英投资是互利双赢的。目前中国对英非金融类直接投资达到180亿美元，投资领域涵盖基础设施、装备制造、高科技、新能源、金融服务等广泛领域。中国企业投资不仅为英国创造了大量就业岗位，而且推动了英国绿色、低碳发展，促进了英国经济的繁荣与稳定。以中广核参与投资建设的欣克利角核电项目为例，该项目建设预计将为英国创造2.6万个就业岗位，建成运营后每年相当于减排二氧化碳900万吨。吉利公司在考文垂投资2.5亿英镑建设新厂，零排放的新一代伦敦出租车将于2018年问世。中方投资17亿英镑建设的伦敦皇家阿尔伯码头项目，集商业、住宅、零售于一身，将为伦敦打造第三大商务金融区，有力推动整个东伦敦地区的发展。华为、万达等公司也持续加大对英投资。中国企业用实际行动为英国未来发展投下了信任票和支持票。
Second, the UK’s unchanged commitment to staying open is key to boosting the confidence of foreign investors. Charles Dickens wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. At this turning point for Britain, these words ring true. How the UK will choose between being more open and embracing the world, and lowering the portcullis and pulling up the drawbridge not only matters to Britain’s own future but concerns its global partners. As the Brexit negotiations continue and the ensuing uncertainties and negative impacts unfold, for Britain and for foreign investors, confidence is more valuable than gold.
After the Brexit Referendum, the British Government reiterated its commitment to free trade and its opposition to protectionism. The vow was to strengthen business ties outside the EU and build a truly global Britain”. Now is the time for Britain to reaffirm its commitment, to shore up confidence and certainties for its global partners rather than to needlessly tighten up reviews and leave them in doubts and hesitation.
其次，信守开放承诺对增强外资信心至关重要。英国大文学家狄更斯有句名言：“这是最好的时代，也是最坏的时代。”在脱欧这一历史性转变面前，英国是选择更加开放、拥抱全球，还是选择退回港湾、拉起吊桥，这不仅关系到英国未来，也引起英国合作伙伴的关注。目前英欧谈判已经启动，各种不确定性因素的负面影响正逐渐显现。对英国和外国投资者而言，“信心比黄金还要珍贵”。英政府在脱欧后多次表示，将会继续坚持自由贸易，反对保护主义，积极加强与欧盟之外伙伴的经贸关系，建设“全球化英国”。现在，外国投资者亟需的是英国政府信守开放承诺带来的信心和确定性，而不是收紧外资审查造成的疑虑和不确定性。
Third, being open and inclusive has been one of the keys to Britain’s continued success. These qualities have over many years enabled this country of 240,000sq km and 65 million people to remain globally visible and wield considerable influence in international politics, economy, science, technology and culture.
One case in point is the City, the “square mile” that is not only the heart of London and the soul of the British economy but also a centre of global finance. This could not have been possible without the kind of openness to business and inclusive regulatory environment the City has long hold on to. The UK on its way to building a “Global Britain” needs to live up to such spirit and welcome international investors, as this is how Britain passes on its success story to future generations.
第三，开放包容是英国延续成功的精神基因。回顾历史，英国虽然只有24万平方公里的国土和6500多万的人口，但长期在国际政治、经济、科技、文化等领域拥有巨大影响力，其中重要原因之一就是英国始终坚持开放包容的精神。伦敦金融城就是最好的例子。伦敦金融城虽然只有“1平方英里”，但它不仅是伦敦乃至英国经济的心脏，也是享誉全球的国际金融中心，这离不开它开放的心态和包容的监管环境。英国在建设“全球化英国”的道路上，也应该发扬光大这种精神，继续张开双臂欢迎世界各国企业家前来投资兴业。只有这样才能续写成功，再创辉煌。
Fourth, investment from China will not and cannot pose a threat to the UK’s national security. Chinese investment in Britain is made through fair and transparent procedures, and mainly focuses on civil and livelihood-related areas. In key infrastructure projects such as communication and nuclear plants, Chinese investors have been widely recognized to have strictly adhered to British laws and regulations in environment, health and security, and fulfilled their corporate social responsibility.
The UK’s inspection and monitoring system regarding foreign acquisitions, underpinned by the UK Company Law, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and other laws, should be a source of confidence.
People who know little about Chinese companies operating internationally often point at their state-owned background or potential security risks. But the fact is many state-owned enterprises in China are listed companies. Their operation is similar to that of European or American multinationals and their business performances are completely open and transparent.
Normal project assessment, security review or environmental evaluation on acquisition cases is understandable. But in carrying out these procedures, Britain should make the right decision and maintain its confidence rather than being swayed by protectionism or looking at Chinese investment through Cold War-tinted spectacles. Chinese investors came here for cooperation and win-win results, and they look for a business friendly and welcoming environment.
I hope they will find what they look for. I hope facts will show they have made a right decision by investing in the UK.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos early this year, President Xi Jinping called for “developing global free trade and investment, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation through opening-up and saying no to protectionism.”
China and Britain should join hands to advance economic globalization, to increase trade liberalization and to enhance investment facilitation so as to build an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive global economy.
第四，中国投资不会威胁英国国家安全。中国企业在英投资是公开透明的，主要集中在民用、民生领域，即便参与通讯、核电等一些重要基础设施领域，也严格遵循英方环保、卫生、安全等各项法律法规，积极履行企业社会责任，得到各界肯定。英国拥有健全的外资并购审查和监管体系，《英国企业法》、《金融服务与市场法》等法律有关规定全面、严格，英方理应对此有足够定力和自信。一些人可能对中国企业“走出去”还不甚了解，担忧所谓“国有”背景或安全隐患。实际上很多中国国企都是上市企业，经营标准与欧美跨国企业相仿，业绩公开透明。中方对于英方对外资并购进行正常的项目评审、安全审核、环境评估不持异议，但希望英方能明析是非，排除保护主义思潮干扰，继续保持自信，切勿戴着“冷战”色彩的有色眼镜看待中国投资。中国企业到英国来，为的是寻求合作，寻求共赢。他们希望看到友善的、欢迎外资的环境。我衷心地希望，他们的愿望能够实现，事实可以证明他们来英国投资的决定是正确的。
This year marks the 45th anniversary of ambassadorial diplomatic ties between China and Britain. It is also a year for consolidating the China-UK golden era. The two countries should treat each other as equals and with respect so that their cooperation on trade and investment could further deepen and bear more golden fruits and deliver more benefit to the Chinese and British people.
今年是中英建立大使级外交关系45周年，也是中英关系“黄金时代”深入发展之年。习近平主席在今年达沃斯世界经济论坛年会上提出，“要坚定不移发展全球自由贸易和投资，在开放中推动贸易和投资自由化便利化，旗帜鲜明反对保护主义。”中方愿与英方一道，高举支持经济全球化、贸易自由化、投资便利化的旗帜，共同为建设创新、活力、联动、包容的世界经济做出贡献。中方也愿在相互尊重、平等相待基础上，与英方共同努力，不断深化贸易投资合作，为中英关系“黄金时代”贡献更多“黄金成果”，更好造福两国和两国人民。
