共和国同龄人张永奎：见证中国对外贸易从探索到自信的跨越式发展
编者按：2024年是中华人民共和国成立75周年。作为"共和国同龄人"，1949年出生的张永奎亲历了中国对外贸易从无到有、从弱到强的全过程。这位75岁的外贸老兵，用他的故事向我们展示了中国对外开放的壮丽画卷。
Editor's Note: The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Zhang Yongkui, born in 1949 as a "contemporary of the Republic," has witnessed the entire process of China's foreign trade from scratch to strength. This 75-year-old veteran of foreign trade shows us the magnificent picture of China's opening-up through his story.
在重庆团结村车站，满载智能家电、新能源汽车的中欧班列呼啸着奔向欧洲。繁忙的西部陆海新通道班列跨越山海，将"重庆造"产品送到全球。看着这一幕，曾经奋斗在外贸进出口最前线的张永奎感慨万千。
At Chongqing Tuanjie Village Station, China-Europe freight trains loaded with smart home appliances and new energy vehicles roar towards Europe. The busy Western Land-Sea New Corridor trains cross mountains and seas to deliver "Made in Chongqing" products worldwide. Witnessing this scene, 75-year-old Zhang Yongkui, who once fought on the front lines of foreign trade, is filled with emotion.
从零开始：摸着石头过河的探索期
Starting from Scratch: The Exploration Period of "Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones"
1985年春天，结束17年军旅生涯的张永奎转业到刚成立不久的重庆市对外经济贸易委员会工作。"那时重庆刚获批经济计划单列市，真正开始发展外贸。"张永奎回忆道，"之前没有进出口权，只能按国家计划调拨商品到沿海口岸出口，连卖到哪、卖给谁都不知道。"
In the spring of 1985, Zhang Yongkui, after 17 years of military service, was transferred to the newly established Chongqing Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission. "At that time, Chongqing had just been approved as a city with independent economic planning status and truly began to develop foreign trade," Zhang recalled. "Before that, without import and export rights, we could only transfer goods to coastal ports for export according to the national plan, not even knowing where they were sold or to whom."
上世纪80年代末，重庆开始发展创汇农业。张永奎和同事们推动建立农产品生产基地，从种植到加工全面升级。"当时出口以初级农产品为主，附加值低。生产条件差，工人不穿工作服，甚至光脚干活。"通过政府补贴，他们改造厂房、规范流程，产品质量显著提升。
In the late 1980s, Chongqing began to develop foreign exchange-earning agriculture. Zhang and his colleagues promoted the establishment of agricultural product production bases, upgrading from planting to processing. "At that time, exports were mainly primary agricultural products with low added value. Production conditions were poor, with workers not wearing work clothes and even working barefoot." With government subsidies, they renovated factories, standardized processes, and significantly improved product quality.
走向世界：展销会上的面包与吆喝
Going Global: Bread and Hawking at Trade Fairs
产品升级后，如何开拓国际市场成为新挑战。张永奎带领企业参加国际展销会，"在展位上帮企业吆喝，饿了啃面包，渴了喝水，接着喊。"通过参展，企业增长了见识，学会了根据目标市场需求调整产品。例如荣昌红茶根据俄罗斯偏好改良为大叶茶，出口额实现翻倍增长。
After product upgrades, how to explore the international market became a new challenge. Zhang led enterprises to participate in international trade fairs, "helping enterprises hawk at booths, eating bread when hungry, drinking water when thirsty, and then continuing to shout." Through exhibitions, enterprises gained experience and learned to adjust products according to target market needs. For example, Rongchang black tea was improved to large-leaf tea according to Russian preferences, and export volume doubled.
开放前沿：从"末梢"到"前沿"的华丽转身
Open Frontier: The Gorgeous Transformation from "End" to "Frontier"
如今，重庆已从开放"末梢"跃升为"前沿"。中欧班列、西部陆海新通道等国际物流大通道让"重庆造"走向世界。外贸企业从直辖初的120家增长到2023年的1.84万家，增长150倍。张永奎虽已退休，仍为肠衣等产品"走出去"出谋划策。
Today, Chongqing has leapt from the "end" of opening-up to the "frontier." International logistics channels such as the China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor have made "Made in Chongqing" go global. Foreign trade enterprises have increased from 120 at the beginning of the municipality directly under the central government to 18,400 in 2023, a 150-fold increase. Although retired, Zhang still provides suggestions for products like casings to "go global."
张永奎的祝福："忆往昔峥嵘岁月，看今朝国泰民安，衷心祝愿祖国更加繁荣富强！"
Zhang Yongkui's Blessing: "Recalling the extraordinary years of the past and seeing the country's prosperity and people's peace today, I sincerely wish the motherland more prosperity and strength!"
