地方外事能力概念初探

On the Concept of Local Capability on Foreign Affairs

地方外事在中国对外交往中扮演着特殊的角色,但相关的能力提升尚未跟上实践的需要,学理化的研究也十分缺乏。为进一步丰富对地方外事能力的学理认识,并探讨未来能力提升的路径,有必要从能力建设的主体、目标以及能力内涵等三个方面对地方外事能力概念进行较全面的分析。在能力建设主体方面,除了地方外办扮演着关键角色外,要注意到整个地方政府以及社会力量都是能力建设的重要力量。在能力建设目标方面,一般强调地方外事有服务国家外交与地方经济社会发展的双重目标,本文则着眼于中国外交大局的需要,更多强调提升地方外事主动对接、服务国家外交方面能力的重要性与迫切性。在能力建设的内涵方面,需要把握好政治与业务能力、政府与社会能力、硬与软能力的关系,这样才能有的放矢,结合各地实际情况有针对性地提升地方外事的管理、服务与交流水平。通过概念分析可知,要提升地方外事能力,还面临制度、法律、机构、人才等方面的挑战。如何从主观本领与客观资源、条件两方面着手克服这些障碍,既是未来地方外事能力实践提升的方向,也是未来相关学理研究有待进一步深入的议程。

The local agents have played special roles in China’s foreign affairs,but their capabilities have not been developed fully and studied scientifically in the academia.For laying the academic foundation of future studies and practice,it is necessary to investigate carefully the concept of local capability on foreign affairs by defining three factors of subjects,objects and connotation of this capability.In the process of capability-building,besides the local governments and their foreign affairs offices,the non-governmental agents are the important subjects too.The objects of capabilitybuilding are twofold:to serve local economic and social development and national diplomacy.But the potential capability to serve national diplomacy for local foreign affairs is usually overlooked and not developed fully.For enhancing precisely the capabilities of local foreign affairs,this article believes that the relations between political and professional,governmental and social,hard and soft capabilities,should be balanced on the basis of defining connotation of capability.After the concept of capability is elaborated,the conclusion is that the diversified challenges in the fields of system,law,institution,and talents etc.,should be paid more attention and overcome by enhancing the subjective abilities and develop the objective resources.