投资便利化议题的兴起与投资条约的范式转变

The Rise of Investment Facilitation and the Paradigm Shift in Investment Treaty

国际投资条约的两大目标是保护与促进外国投资。长期以来,蕴含于实现国际投资条约促进投资之功能的认识,是建基于强有力的投资保护可以促进外国投资流向东道国,尤其作为发展中国家的东道国。是故,许多国家致力于在投资条约中针对东道国构建高水平的义务体系以及强有力的投资争端解决机制。然而,投资条约对外国投资者提供有效保护的同时,并未明显促进投资流向作为东道国的发展中国家。晚近,越来越多的投资条约开始纳入投资便利化条款,中国等国家甚至在WTO框架内推动通过《促进发展的投资便利化协定》。虽然关于投资便利化的条约实践尚未成熟,其对于促进投资的效果亦有待观察,但它为投资条约如何在促进投资方面发挥更大作用开辟了新思路,体现了投资条约的一种范式转变。经由倡导通过大力推动投资便利化议题并且采取丰富的投资便利化措施之机,中国为投资条约变革提供了中国智慧。

The dual objectives of international investment treaties are the protection and promotion of investments.Historically,the epistemological underpinning for achieving the investment promotion function of these treaties has been that robust investment protection could stimulate foreign investment inflows into developing host countries,particularly developing host countries.Consequently,many countries have committed to establishing a high level of obligations within investment treaties for host countries,coupled with strong mechanisms for resolving investment disputes.However,despite providing effective protection to foreign investors,investment treaties have not evidently led to increased investment flows into developing countries.Recently,an increasing number of investment treaties have begun to include provisions on investment facilitation,with countries like China even advancing an Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement within the WTO framework.Although the treaty practice regarding investment facilitation remains nascent,and its effectiveness in promoting investment is yet to be fully observed,it opens up new avenues for investment treaties to play a greater role in promoting investment.This suggests an emerging paradigm shift in international treaties.By advocating for investment facilitation agenda and implementing a range of investment facilitation measures,China has made a significant contribution to the transformation of investment treaties.