《中国日报》英文版：昆明加快新一轮对外开放
掌上春城讯6月13日，在第5届南博会即将开幕之际，中国国家英文日报《中国日报》用一个整版向海外推出昆明的专题报道，专版共刊发3篇稿件——《Kunming races along path toward opening-up》（《云南昆明打造“四个中心” 加快新一轮对外开放》）、《City’s government to promote health,medicial industries》（《云南昆明：全力发展大健康产业 举全市之力建设好中国健康之城》）、《Infrastructure connecting region to countries throughout southern Asia》（《建设区域性国际中心城市 云南昆明区域性国际综合交通枢纽建设提速》）。
其中，发在头条位置的《云南昆明打造“四个中心” 加快新一轮对外开放》一文介绍道，云南昆明正努力拓展对外开放的广度和深度，加快把昆明建设成为立足西南、面向全国、辐射南亚东南亚的区域性国际中心城市。以下是报道全文：
unming races along path toward opening-up
Yunnan’s capital enhances influence and international competitiveness to become a regional hub
（中文版往下看）
Yunnan’s capital Kunming has accelerated the opening-up of its economy international hub, with links radiating throughout Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Official said the China- ASEAN Free Trade Area, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Zone and Pan-Pearl River Delta Economic Circle overlap in the city- putting it at the crossroads of the region and making it an important window for China’s opening up to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Home to more than 60 percent on Yunnan’s high-tech companies, and more than 90 percent of the province’s institutes and universities, Kunming is the political, economic, financial and cultural center of Yunnan.
Its strategic position has become increasingly obvious with the upgrading of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
All that has transformed it from being an inland-focused region to the frontline of the national opening-up and development, creating historical opportunities for Kunming to pursue its status as a central city for the triangle made up of Southwest China, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Statistics from the Kunming government show it has trade ties with 115 countries and regions. It trade with Asian partners last year hit ＄2.12 billion, up 3.22 times year-on-year, accounting for 71.42 percent of its total foreign trade volume.
To seize the growing opportunities, Kunming’s authorities propose developing the city into an economic and trade center, a science and technology innovation center, a financial service center and people-to-people cultural exchange center for the region.
“Kunming should play to the strengths of its location, resources and environment in the process of building the ‘four centers’,” said Cheng Lianyuan, Party chief of Kunming.
“This will enhance Kunming’s influence and international competitiveness and support it in becoming an international hub city for the region.”
Accordingly, the city has made unswerving efforts to upgrade its industries, improve its business environment, enhance its innovation ecology, develop its financial sector and deepen its cultural exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the region.
Moreover, the city has meted out a clear four-step plan to transform Kunming from a regional city in Southwest China to a strategic hub for the bigger triangle region.
The plan has a clear timetable for its rollout. It envisages marked improvements by 2020 in the city’s urban infrastructure and public services, an upgraded industry and enhanced reputation in the region through the opening-up process, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in exhibitions, finance and tourism.
By 2025, the city aims to have further improved its industrial competence, economic structures and public services. And by 2030, Kunming has set itself the target of having stronger innovation and industrial competitiveness, close economic and deeper cultural ties with the rest of the region, and public services operating at international standards.
In addition, by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the city is anticipating yet more achievements. These include plans to develop an export-oriented economy, a stronger presence as an international city, high quality economic and social development, strengths in attracting a high-quality workforce and investment capital, and a big influence over the whole region.
The blueprint said Kunming has accelerated the pace of its opening-up.
According to the capital’s government, the city has now 21sister cities, nine of which were established after 2011, and 10 are in Southeast Asia and South Asia.
The government predicts that Kunming will have more than 25 sister cities and 13 headquarters for international organizations and representative offices for foreign countries and regions by 2020.
By then, Kunming aims to also have 20 international technology cooperation centers, six international middle and primary schools, and five international medical establishments-recognized by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, an international non-profit organization aimed at certifying health care standards.
Kunming will host the fifth China-South Asia Expo, as well as the 21st China Kunming Import and Export Fair, simultaneously from Thursday to June 20.
Building on the success of the past four events, the first event has grown into an important platform for China to deepen its overall multilateral cooperation and exchanges in diplomacy, the economy, and trade and culture with South Asia, Southeast Asia and beyond.
It is through this platform that big-name multinational supermarket chains Wal-Mart, Carrefour, Metro and others were introduced to Kunming.
Kunming resident Yang Chaofeng still remembered the first time he went shopping at the US-headquartered retailer Wal-Mart in Kunming back to 1999, which, he said, represented a modern way of living.
But the city has preserved its glorious past. In the process of renovating its old buildings and streets, the city has paid special attention to protecting its cultural heritage and old way of living.
The time-honored Wenming, Yongdao and Guanghua streets have been renovated under the principle of “restoring the old as old”, winning applause from local residents and tourists.
The China-South Asia Expo has also helped Kunming to introduce a number of first-class real estate developers from elsewhere in China, mainly from Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Officials said they had contributed to the improvement of the city’s residential and urban infrastructure.
Organizers said the expo has directly improved Kunming’s living environment and the experience for tourists coming to the city.
云南昆明打造“四个中心” 加快新一轮对外开放
程连元：提升昆明影响力与国际竞争力 打造区域性国际中心城市
当前，云南昆明努力拓展对外开放的广度和深度，加快把昆明建设成为立足西南、面向全国、辐射南亚东南亚的区域性国际中心城市。
昆明区位独特、交通便利，地处中国—东盟自由贸易区、澜湄合作区域、泛珠三角经济圈交汇点，是我国面向南亚东南亚开放的前沿和重要门户。这里资源集中、要素集聚，是云南省的政治、经济、金融、文化、科技、教育中心和交通、通讯枢纽，汇聚全省60%以上的高新技术企业、90%以上的科研院所和高等院校。
近年来，随着国家“一带一路”、长江经济带建设等战略深入实施，孟中印缅经济走廊加快建设，中国—东盟自由贸易区升级发展，昆明在全省乃至全国发展大局中的战略地位不断提升，已经从对外开放的“末梢”变成“前沿”，加快建设区域性国际中心城市迎来了难得的机遇。
据昆明市政府统数据，昆明与115个国家和地区有贸易往来。去年与亚洲伙伴的贸易总额达到21.2亿美元，同比增长3.22倍，占对外贸易总额的71.42 %。
建设“四个中心”
为抓住机遇，加快建设区域性国际中心城市，昆明市政府提出把昆明发展成为本地区的经济贸易中心、科技创新中心、金融服务中心和人文交流中心。
昆明市委书记程连元说:“在建设‘四个中心’的过程中，昆明要发挥区位优势、资源优势和环境优势”。
他还表示，“这将提升昆明的影响力和国际竞争力，支持昆明成为该地区的国际中心城市。"
为此，昆明坚定不移地推进产业升级，改善经营环境，增强创新生态，发展金融业，深化与本地区其他国家的文化交流与合作。
建设区域性国际中心城市分“四个阶段”
此外，昆明市还制定了明确的四个阶段计划，将昆明从中国西南地区的地域性城市转变为大三角地区的战略枢纽。这个计划有明确的实施时间表，到2020年，通过对外开放、展览、金融、旅游等领域的民间交流与合作，使城市基础设施和公共服务得到明显改善，产业升级，区域声誉提高。到2025年，昆明将进一步提高产业竞争力、经济结构和公共服务水平。到2030年，将实现创新能力和产业竞争力增强、与本地区其他地区经济和文化联系更加紧密、公共服务水平达到国际水平的目标。到2049年，即中华人民共和国成立100周年之际，将取得更多成就。这包括发展外向型经济的计划，加强国际城市的地位，高质量的经济和社会发展，吸引高素质劳动力和投资资本的优势，以及对整个地区的巨大影响。这充分说明昆明已经加快了对外开放的步伐。
据昆明市人民政府外事侨务办公室数据，昆明市累计缔结国际友城数量达21对，其中有9对是2011年后新缔结的国际友城与南亚东南亚城市缔结友城10对。预计到2020年，缔结国际友好城市将达到25对以上，引进设立国际组织总部和地区代表处（含领事机构及代表处）13个。到那时，昆明将会建设国际科技合作基地20个、国际中小学校6所、通过JCI认证的国际医疗机构5家。
依托南博会昆交会提升对外开放水平
6月14日至20日，第5届南博会暨第25届昆交会将在昆明举行。已成功举办了4届的南博会和24届的昆交会，当前已成为中国深化与南亚、东南亚等地区在外交、经济、贸易和文化等领域全面多边合作与交流的重要平台。
市民体验国际化购物环境
1999年，昆明首家沃尔玛门店大观店开业。时至今日，杨朝峰依旧记得当时的情景——超级大、特别亮、东西多、很有范。在那一段时间里，杨朝峰和家人每周都要去一次沃尔玛大观店逛一逛，感觉那才是有档次、有品位的生活。那时的沃尔玛大观店，是昆明第一家引进的世界500强企业。它的进入，正是借助昆交会这一平台，才逐渐走进昆明人的生活，让市民实实在在地体验、感受到零接触、便利化和国际化的购物环境。
随着沃尔玛的首家门店落户昆明，家乐福、麦德龙等国际大型连锁超市也紧随其后通过昆交会这一平台，陆续在昆明开设了门店。
更多知名企业参与城市建设
在旧城改造过程中，昆明特别注重保护文化遗产和旧生活方式。
历史悠久的文明街、甬道街、光华街等昆明老街，本着“修旧如旧”的原则进行改造，赢得了当地居民和游客的掌声。
中国-南亚博览会还帮助昆明引进了一批来自中国其他地区的一流房地产开发商，主要来自上海、北京和广州。政府表示，他们为改善该市的住宅和城市基础设施作出了贡献。
南博会不仅直接改善了昆明的居住环境，还改善了游客进城的体验。