乌拉圭对中国公民免签，将带来哪些改变？ | What changes will Uruguay’s visa-free policy for Chinese citizens bring?

乌拉圭近日正式宣布将对中国公民实施免签政策，为两国人员往来和各领域交流合作注入新动力。建交三十多年来，中乌关系持续稳定发展，经贸合作成果丰硕，人文交流日益密切。

四川国际传播中心特邀旅居中国近八年的乌拉圭青年玛雅·埃斯科巴，分享她对中乌关系发展的观察与思考，以及对两国民间交流前景的期待。正文如下：

我叫玛雅·埃斯科巴，2018年我来到中国，在长春市的吉林农业大学攻读农学博士学位。我在长春生活了五年，求学期间曾担任学生会主席一职。这段初次和中国结缘的经历，成为我人生的重要转折点，它让我第一次成为国际（留学生）群体与学校之间沟通的桥梁。

My name is Maia Escobar. I arrived in China in 2018 to pursue my doctoral studies in agronomy at Jilin Agricultural University in Changchun. I lived there for 5 years and served as the President of the Student Union. This experience was a significant turning point in my life. For the first time, I acted as a bridge between the international student community and the university.

2018年，玛雅·埃斯科巴来到中国吉林农业大学攻读农学博士学位

In 2018, Maia Escobar came to China to pursue a PhD in Agronomy at Jilin Agricultural University

毕业后，我有幸找到了一份能够继续发挥这一桥梁作用的工作，只不过这一次，我将更多的目光投向了自己的祖国——乌拉圭。目前，我在上海的一家商业公司任职，致力于帮助海外企业进入中国市场。此外，我还志愿担任乌拉圭出口商会的商务拓展经理一职，该机构旨在为乌拉圭希望进军中国等海外市场的各领域出口商提供专业服务。

After graduation, I was fortunate to secure a role that allowed me to continue being a bridge — this time, with a greater focus on my homeland: Uruguay. Currently, I work at a Shanghai-based firm that helps international companies enter the Chinese market. Simultaneously, I serve as a volunteer Business Development Manager at the Uruguayan Exporters Union, which supports Uruguayan exporters across breaking into foreign markets, including China.

这份工作让我有幸亲历了近年来中乌关系发展历程中的若干重要时刻。例如，我曾参与乌拉圭前总统路易斯·拉卡列·波乌与现任总统亚曼杜·奥尔西对中国进行国事访问期间的相关工作。不仅亲眼见证了两国政府对中乌贸易关系的高度重视，也直观地感受到两国在文化、美食与艺术领域日益密切的交流。

Thanks to this job, I was fortunate enough to witness several key moments that have shaped China-Uruguay relations over the years. For example, I participated in the presidential visits of former Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou and current President Yamandú Orsi. Not only did I see the value both governments place on the China-Uruguay trade relationship, but I also experienced the cultural, culinary, and artistic exchanges between the two countries.

中乌建交已逾三十五载，在此期间，乌拉圭历任总统都曾踏上中国的土地。我认为这不仅体现出中国在乌拉圭外交布局中举足轻重的地位，也见证了两国在长期交往中不断沉淀的共识与情谊。

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uruguay over 35 years ago, every Uruguayan president has engaged in diplomatic visits to China. I believe this highlights the importance of China on Uruguay’s diplomatic agenda and the consensus and friendship that both nations have fostered over time.

第25届江苏农业国际合作洽谈会乌拉圭馆，玛雅·埃斯科巴（右5）与乌拉圭驻上海总领事马塞罗·马龙先生合影留念

Maia Escobar (5th from right) poses for a group photo with Marcelo Magnou, Uruguayan General Consul in Shanghai, at booth from  Uruguay of the 25th Jiangsu Agriexpo

一直以来，乌拉圭是一个对国际交流持开放态度的国家，在人员流动方面一向施行开放政策，并已与多个国家签署了免签协议。在我看来，此次乌拉圭对华免签政策的实行是中乌三十多年来不断深化互信与互助所取得的成果。随着中国率先迈出信任的一步，对乌拉圭公民实施免签政策，乌拉圭顺势作出对等回应、向中国公民回馈这份信任。

Uruguay has always been a country open to international exchange, maintaining an open policy on the movement of people and having signed visa-free agreements with numerous countries. In my view, the visa-free agreement between Uruguay and China is the result of mutual trust and support that the two countries have fostered over more than 30 years. Since China took the first leap of faith and granted visa-free travel to Uruguayan citizens, the natural step for Uruguay is to reciprocate this confidence by extending the same treatment to Chinese citizens.

我的中国同事——其中不乏对乌拉圭怀有浓厚兴趣的企业家——他们对此感到十分欣喜，因为这意味着未来他们前往乌拉圭考察和管理业务之旅更加便捷。这一政策将带来一系列宝贵机遇，而且不仅限于商业领域。

My Chinese colleagues — many of whom are business people with a particular interest in Uruguay — were delighted that they would be able to visit and manage their businesses more easily in the future in Uruguay. This opens up a range of excellent opportunities beyond business.

我还想在此分享一些个人感受：虽然两国相隔万里，但我认为，乌拉圭人内心深处对中国始终怀有浓厚兴趣，也渴望亲眼看看这个常被提及但却并不十分了解的国度。已有多位乌拉圭的亲朋好友联系我，表达了想来中国看看的意愿。对我来说，这是一件非常美好的事情，因为这意味着亲友来中国探望我、了解我的生活和工作环境时，少了一道门槛。

I’d like to touch on something more personal here: Although the two countries are very distant, I believe there is a deep interest among Uruguayans in visiting China and getting to know a country often discussed but still unfamiliar. My Uruguayan friends and family members have already contacted me about visiting China. For me, this is wonderful, because it means there will be fewer obstacles when my friends and family come to visit me and see where I live and work.

玛雅·埃斯科巴在中国旅游的照片

Photos of Maia Escobar's trip to China

这一政策将为人们提供相遇、相识的机会，在现实生活中鲜活地走近彼此，从而在各个领域发展出崭新且深入的关系。由此，也将为学术、体育、文化、艺术、音乐等领域的交流带来更多机遇，出现各类因人而异、形式多样、独具特色的机会。

I am convinced that history will view this moment as a pivotal point in the strengthening of China-Uruguay relations. It will inject impetus into our economies, but more importantly, it will foster a closer relationship between two cultures on opposite sides of the globe. I see this as a very positive development — one that opens up opportunities for economic growth and helps build deeper trust between entrepreneurs from both countries.

乌拉圭与中国风格迥异。我力荐中国游客亲自去感受乌拉圭的宁静和自然。这里值得游览的景点数不胜数：散发着文化与美食气息的首都蒙得维的亚、令人惬意的海滨度假胜地埃斯特角城、拥有无际地平线和宁静海滩的波洛尼奥角、以自然风光和璀璨星空著称的米纳斯山脉、以及步道幽静、空气纯净的乌鸦峡谷……

Uruguay is very different from China. My top recommendation for Chinese tourists is to enjoy the peace and quiet and the natural environment in Uruguay. There are countless attractions worth visiting here: Montevideo, the capital city brimming with culture and culinary delights; Punta del Este, a charming seaside resort; Cabo Polonio, with its endless horizons and tranquil beaches; Sierra de las Minas, renowned for their natural beauty and dazzling starry skies; and Quebrada de los Cuervos, with its serene trails and pristine air...

乌拉圭美食同样不可错过，它融合了欧洲与拉丁美洲的多重烹饪传统。来到这里，“奇维托”（chivito）——一种独具特色的牛肉三明治——是每位游客必尝的经典美食；传统烤肉“阿萨多”（asado）同样不容错过。相信我，乌拉圭有太多值得品尝的美食。

Uruguayan cuisine is also not to be missed, blending European and Latin American culinary traditions. When you visit, the chivito, a unique beef sandwich, is essential for any visitor to Uruguay. So is the asado, traditional barbecue. I assure you that there is plenty of food worth trying in Uruguay.

中国张开双臂接纳了我，我尤其感谢长春人民，正是他们最先让我在异国他乡找到了家的感觉。我将永远把这座城市珍藏在心底。就像我时不时会想念家乡的炸肉排和奇维托三明治一样，我也会惦记锅包肉、麻辣烫，或是盛夏的冷面。如今，无论是我的味蕾还是我的生活，都挂念着蒙得维的亚与长春，两种思念之情早已彼此交融。

China has welcomed me with open arms, and I am especially grateful to the people of Changchun, who were the first to make this country feel like home. I will cherish this city deep in my heart forever. Just as I crave a milanesa or a chivito from time to time, I also crave Fried Pork in Scoop, malatang, and some delicious cold noodles in summer. Today, my palate and my life have become a blend of nostalgia for both Montevideo and Changchun.

而在上海，我同样收获了许多美好的经历，我完全理解为什么人们会把这座城市称为“魔都”。我曾有幸带领乌拉圭人去探访我在这座城市里最钟爱的角落 ，其中既有商务人士，也有亲朋好友。我相信，亲历中国有助于乌拉圭人更好地了解中国。

My experiences in Shanghai have been wonderful. I completely understand why this city is nicknamed “the Capital of Magic”. I have had the opportunity to show Uruguayan visitors my favorite spots in the city — business people, friends, and family. I believe that seeing China with their own eyes will help deepen Uruguayans’ understanding of this country.

玛雅·埃斯科巴与乌拉圭总统亚曼杜·奥尔西的合影

Maia Escobar with Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi

在中国生活的近八年里，我始终将帮助中乌两国增进了解、建立联系视为自己的目标。根据我的经验，乌拉圭人与中国人坐在一起交流得越深入，就越能理解彼此。渐渐地，原本只是出于商业目的的会面，变成了朋友间的聚会。长此以往，一点一滴，随着民间交往的不断加深，中乌两国的友谊必将日益牢固。

In the nearly 8 years I’ve lived in China, I have been devoted to helping both nations get to know and connect with one another. In my experience, the more Uruguayans and Chinese that share a meal together, the better they understand one another. Gradually, what began as a meeting between people with only a business interest turns into a gathering of friends. Thus, little by little, person by person, the friendship between a giant country in Asia and a small but great country in Latin America is strengthened.

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