我留在中国的理由

文 / Timofey Bakhvalov（俄罗斯） 译/唐庆超

我与中国的关联由来已久，我的父母是20世纪90年代与中国科学和教育领域建立联系的苏联专家之一。就在我10岁生日前夕，母亲被政府派往武汉理工大学教授一学年化学。1991年4月，父亲和母亲一起参加了为期两个月的物理化学课程。随后，我的父母多次到中国交流经验，以提高中国的教育教学水平。

My relationship with China has a long history-my parents were one of the leading Soviet specialists who established scientific and educational ties with the PRC in the 90s. Just before my 10th birthday, my mother was sent by government to Wuhan University of Technology to teach chemistry for one academic year. Then, in April 1991, my father joined her with a two-month course in physical chemistry. Subsequently parents visited China many times to exchange experiences and improve the level of education and teaching in the PRC.

当时，我非常期待他们的电话（在那个时候国际长途非常昂贵），期待他们关于中国生活的故事，期待装有信件和礼物的包裹。苏联那时正经历着非常困难的时期。这些期待的情绪根植于我的脑海深处，我开始阅读有关中国、有关其5000多年历史的书籍。

I remember how impatiently I was looking forward to their phone calls (extremely expensive at those times) and stories about life in the Middle Kingdom, letters and parcels with gifts while USSR experienced an utterly difficult times. These emotions got planted in my brain on a subconscious level. I started reading books about China and its more than 5,000 years of history.

那时，俄罗斯和中国之间的联系正在加强，第一部关于孙悟空、少林寺的卡通片、电影和电视剧，当然，还有成龙出演的功夫电影都出现在了电视上。我的父母从香港带来了一台家庭录像机（电视+录像机）。那个时候，录像机在苏联跟一辆好车一样贵，根本买不到。这个录像机的磁带库不仅让我熟悉了中国，也让我了解了东方文化。那时我努力着，希望有一天能够访问这个不寻常的、看起来像神话一般美好的国家。

Ties between Russia and China were strengthening-the first cartoons, movies and TV series about the Monkey King, Shaolin monks and, of course, action movies with Jackie Chan appeared on television. The parents brought a VHS home-video center (TV + VCR) from Hong Kong. At that time in the USSR, it cost as much as a good car, and it was impossible to buy. The library of VHScassettes helped me to get acquainted not only with Chinese, but also with Eastern culture. I was striving to visit this unusual and seemingly fabulous country someday.

去中国开设分公司

2001年毕业并获得法学硕士学位后，我开始在国际合同法、信息技术和公关领域担任法律顾问，并开始撰写有关互联网技术、网际互联协议等主题的分析文章。后来我通过了一个竞赛，并去往布达佩斯进行了一项由吸引外国青年人才计划开展的实践培训。但我最终没有留在欧洲，而是回到俄罗斯，很快加入到俄罗斯联邦总统计划（行政人员专业培训计划）当中。

Open a branch in China

After graduating and getting my Master of Laws degree in 2001, I started working as a legal adviser in the field of international contract law, information technology, PR, and also began writing analytical articles on the development of IT, IP and other topics. Then I passed a contest and went to Budapest for practical training under the program of attraction of foreign young talents, but decided not to stay in Europe and returned to Russia, where soon entered the Program of the President of the Russian Federation (program for professional training of administrative personnel).

在21世纪初期，信息技术在俄罗斯显现出快速增长的态势。多亏我对音乐的热情，我在互联网发布的音频内容区找到了一份有趣且有前途的工作。这是一家雄心勃勃的初创公司，由于复杂的立法制度，该领域尚且没有同类产品。我与数百家西方音乐整合商、独立唱片公司和艺术家达成许可协议，当技术和所有相关流程都已准备妥当，公司获得了令人印象深刻的用户群后，我向公司提议扩大业务活动，在中国开设分公司。

In the early 2000s, information technology has shown rapid growth in Russia. Thanks to my passion for music, I found an interesting and promising job in the field of Internet distribution of audio content. It was an ambitious startup that had no analogues due to complex legislation. A titanic work has been done to conclude licensing agreements with hundreds of Western music aggregators and independent labels and artists. When the technological and all related processes were established properly and an impressive user base was earned, I proposed to expand business activities and open a branch in China.

Timofey Bakhvalov，中央广播电视总台俄语编辑

为什么是中国？答案显而易见——巨大的技术潜力、快速增长的社会经济以及许多其他因素让我们选择了中国。当然，之前提到的对中国的向往和情感上的渴望起到了巨大作用。我获得了适当的资金支持，并拥有了完全的行动自由，条件是中国分公司必须在2—3年内开始运营。

Why China? The answer is obvious-huge technological potential, rapid socio-economic growth, and many other factors. Of course, the mentioned before craving and emotional attachment for China played a huge role. I was allocated a proper funding and got complete freedom of action, on the condition that the Chinese office must to start working in 2～3 years.

我于2005年来到中国，来时对汉语一窍不通，也不会用筷子，但我的心态很积极乐观。很快我就被中国首都的活力感染了。北京建筑的建设规模和占地面积、建筑的协调一致性和富于组织性、城市的舒适性和安全性都给我留下了深刻的印象。与此同时，这座大都市的友善、开放、自发和勤奋也都让我深深着迷。我当即就知道自己一定会留下来，事实也正是如此，我不仅留在了北京，还待了很长时间。

I arrived in China in 2005, without the slightest knowledge of the Chinese language, not knowing how to use chopsticks, but with a positive attitude. I quickly became imbued with the energy of the capital of the China. Beijing impressed me with its scale and scope of construction projects, general consistency and organization, comfort and safety. The community of the metropolis fascinated me with their friendliness, openness, spontaneity and hard working at the same time. I knew right away that I will definitely stay. And that I stay for a long time.

当然，一开始是很难安定下来的，我很难去适应北京当地的风土人情、美食等。每次从俄罗斯短期旅行回来，我都会带着一整箱的俄罗斯香肠、面包或者其他的俄罗斯食物。顺便提一句，俄罗斯和中国的海关没有就此提出任何问题——毕竟这是所有外籍人士的共同特点。然而，我的饮食喜好最终发生了变化，对俄罗斯食物的怀念也在几年后消失了。

Of course, at the very beginning it was difficult to settle down, adapt to local conditions, to cuisine etc. Every time, while returning from short-term trips to Russia, I brought a suitcase of Russian sausages, bread and other food. By the way, Russian and Chinese customs did not raise any questions on this matter-cause it is a common thing for all expats. However, culinary preferences changed, the nostalgia for Russian food disappeared after a couple of years.

I clearly understood that achieving my main goal I arrived for, the desire to gain a foothold in China, and willing to break the comfortable circle of communication with the Russian diaspora and expats from other counties could only be gained by serious studies of Chinese language. I know people who have lived in China for 10-15 years, but have never learned Chinese, and I think this is a big mistake. I preferred a small private school to universities and their huge groups. In my classes there were a maximum of 6 people. The language studies were not easy, but the personal approach of the teachers and the constant presence in China did the job. Today I can say without exaggeration that I really love the Chinese language. And translations from the Chinese language is not only an exciting job, but also a wonderful exercise for my mind.

But the issues with the legislation and procedures were more complicated. The legal system of China is complex, almost all procedures at that time were not declarative, but strictly permissive. In addition, this sector was closed to WOFE, and it was impossible to obtain a license to distribute content online. Traditionally the easy way out was to cooperate with Chinese partners. Consultations were held and tight interaction was established with WIPO. To conclude a number of contracts and for other purposes, it was also necessary to open a Hong Kong company.

我非常清楚地知道，实现我的主要目标，在中国站稳脚跟并愿意打破与俄罗斯侨民和其他国家外籍人士的交流舒适圈，只有通过认真学习汉语才能实现。我认识一位在中国生活了10—15年的外籍人士，他从未学过中文，我想这真是一个巨大的错误。与大学和大学庞大的群体相比，我更喜欢小型的私立学校，我的中文班级最多只有6个人。学习中文并不容易，但通过学习老师的私人方法并持续在中国生活，我最终学会了汉语。如今，我毫不夸张地说，我真的很喜欢中文。而且，翻译中文不仅是一项令人兴奋的工作，也是对我思想的一种极好的锻炼。

但与学习中文相比，法律和程序的问题显得更为复杂。中国的法律制度相当复杂，当时几乎所有的程序都不是声明性的，而是严格的许可性的。此外，中国部门对外商独资企业是封闭的，外商独资企业基本上无法获得在线发布内容的许可。传统上，简单的解决方法是与中国伙伴合作。我们与世界知识产权组织进行了磋商并建立了密切的联系。此外，为了签订一些合同和其他目的，我们还需要开设一家香港公司。

许多与我交谈、向我咨询过的互联网技术和电子商务企业界的代表都对这个项目持怀疑态度，他们认为中国网民永远不会为音乐和其他可以免费下载的内容付费。在俄罗斯，也有类似的情况。但该服务逐渐获得了坚实的用户基础，有一批较为活跃的用户愿意为内容和舒适的体验感定期付费。

Many representatives of the IT and e-commerce business community, with whom I spoke and consulted, evaluated at this project with skepticism, arguing that Chinese Internet users will never pay for music and other content that can be downloaded for free. In Russia the situation was similar. But the service has gradually gained a solid base of financially active users willing to pay regularly for content and comfortable usability.

然而，几乎在我的公司获取收益和利润的同时，中国的法律在该领域的许可和经营业务方面发生了变化。互联网技术公司必须拥有可观的授权股本以及合格的本地技术人员才能被批准经营。公司的下一步走向变得迷茫。

However, almost simultaneously with gains and profit, Chinese legislation was changed in terms of licensing and running business in this sector. IT companies needed an impressive authorized capital stock, as well as the qualified local technical staff. Further activities turned out to be vague.

但好在在线服务引起了关注，多家大公司希望与我们合作，包括电子商务巨头苏宁等。我们收到了满意的报价，谈判也顺利完成。因此，我们将所有的知识产权都转移给了中国互联网技术巨头。我在这个项目上的长期工作已经顺利完成。

But the online service attracted attention, cooperation offers from large companies began to arrive, including such e-commerce giants as Suning and others. A lucrative offer was received, negotiations were successfully completed, as a result, all intellectual property was transferred to one of the Chinese IT giants. My longterm work on this project has been successfully completed.

留在中国 扩大朋友圈

外国人通常对中国只有两种观点——喜爱或拒绝，没有任何第三种。我认识的许多外籍人士在中国生活了一两年后，便感到“筋疲力尽”，与他们聊天时不满的声音开始越来越频繁。

Stay in China to make more friends

Foreigners have only two points of view about China—either love or rejection. There is no any third point. Many expats with whom I got acquainted, after a year or two of living in China, start to “burn out”, during conversations discontent begins to sound more and more frequently.

然而，我认为政治体制和公共管理稳定、安全、日常生活便利，包括网上购物、生活方式和国家本身的氛围等中国的诸多优点，以及我对中国的思维习惯、商业购物、文化和美食等方面的适应，都令我没有了返回俄罗斯或移居其他国家的先决条件和愿望。我游览过许多其他国家，看过它们的新闻后，我可以与中国进行一番比较。结果是，我决定继续在中国生活并发展我的事业。

The stability of the political system and public administration, security, convenience in everyday little things, including online shopping, the way of life and the atmosphere of the country itself, as well as my adaptation to the Chinese mentality and business practices, culture and cuisine... I did not have prerequisites and desires to return to Russia or move to any another country. Having visited many other countries and watching everyday news, I have examples to compare with. I decided to continue living and building a career in China.

Since after the completion of the work I had to leave the post of general manager of the company and complete the procedures for its liquidation. Also I had to obtain a new residence permit—this is a serious issue even for experts to this day. So I had to open a new legal entity.

During this transitional period, I gained more time to develop new connections, establish contacts at different levels. I have consulted and rendered various services to more than 30 businessesfrom small and medium-sized enterprises to state owned corporations-operating in the field of IT, IP, logistics, e-commerce, culture and education, etc. To name a few—the Huawei Russia; ABBYY—a world leading solutions provider in linguistics (including digital dictionaries) , OCR and AI; Yota Technologies—a manufacturer of Yotaphone 2 mobile phones, which Russian President Vladimir Putin presented as a gift to President of the PRC Xi Jinping at APEC 2014, etc.

由于工作完成，我不得不辞去公司总经理一职，并完成离职程序。此外，我还必须获得新的居留许可证——即便对今天的专家来说，这也是一个严重的问题。所以我不得不开设一个新的法人实体。

在这个过渡时期，我获得了更多的时间去发展新的关系，建立不同层次的联系。我曾为互联网技术、网际互联协议、物流、电子商务、文化教育等领域的30多家企业提供咨询和服务，从中小企业到国有企业都有涉及。仅举几例，华为（俄罗斯）、ABBYY（一家世界领先的语言学领域开发商，包括数字词典、OCR软件和人工智能）、Yota科技（手机制造商，2014年APEC会议上俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京把该公司生产的Yotaphone 2手机作为礼物，赠送给中国国家主席***）。

我游览过中国大约50个地方。我还记得父母讲的往事，武汉曾经是一个小镇，没有高楼大厦，街上没有汽车，只有自行车和人力车。如今，呈现在我眼前的武汉是一个闪亮的大都市。我最喜欢的城市是中国的首都北京，其次是成都、桂林和深圳。中国飞速发展的态势是激励我在中国生活的重要原因。

I have visited about 50 places in China. I remembered the stories of my parents that it was a small town without any high-rise buildings, without a hint of cars on the streets—only bicycles and rickshaws. What I have seen is a gigantic shining metropolis. My favorites after the capital city are Chengdu, Guilin and Shenzhen. The dynamics of China’s development is the main thing that inspires and motivates me in my life in the Middle Kingdom.

我遇到了许多来自社会各行各业的有趣人士——技术专家、商人、外交官、文化界人士等。作为代表和演讲者，我参加了数十场国际级别的论坛、座谈会、展览和活动，包括授予俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京中华人民共和国友谊勋章的仪式。

I met a lot of interesting people from different circles of society – technical specialists, businessmen, diplomats, cultural figures, etc. I took part as a delegate and speaker in dozens of different forums and symposiums, exhibitions and events of the international level, including the ceremony of awarding of Vladimir Putin with the Order of Friendship of the PRC.

回到刚才谈起的开办一家新公司吧。我管理着一家俄罗斯公司，外贸交易需要具备一些特殊条件。因此，我提请公司注意2013年开放的上海自贸区。那时开设法人实体并完成签证手续大约需要花费一个月的时间。如今，这个过程只需要几天的时间。

Returning to the opening of a new company. As part of one of the foreign trade transactions, which I supervised for a Russian company, special conditions were required and I drew attention to the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ), which opened in 2013. It took about a month to open a legal entity and visa procedures. Today this process takes just a few days.

翻译《***谈治国理政》

2014年年底，我收到了中国国际广播电台（中国广播电视总台）的合作意向。其提案涉及对经济和政治的分析，以及对中俄和国际关系的理解。在大学期间，我曾在电台工作，而且在FM电台有自己的固定周播节目，所以我热情地接受了这个邀请。我和中国国际广播电台的合作持续了7年。在此期间，我创办了一个节目，每周播出——致力于促进中国和俄罗斯在社会经济方面的互动，也致力于促进中国和世界的电子商务的发展。为此，我撰写了大量关于中俄关系发展等领域的文章和评论，并非常关注中美经贸摩擦，以打击假新闻，形成稳定的信息和媒体空间。

Translate Xi Jinpin’s book The Governance of China

At the end of 2014, I received an offer of cooperation from China Radio International (China Media Group) . The proposal concerned economic and political analytics and Sino-Russian and international relations. During my university studies, I had experience working at the radio and even had my own weekly radio-show on FM radio station, so I accepted the offer with enthusiasm. Cooperation has been going on for 7 years. During this time, weekly programs were created-dedicated to the interaction of China and Russia in the socio-economic aspects and dedicated to e-commerce in the PRC and the world, an uncountable number of different articles and comments were written on the development of Sino-Russian relations topic and other various fields, I paid great attention to the China-USA economic confrontation, to the fight against fake news and the formation of a stable info and media space.

The most important annual work for China Radio International, which I am especially proud of, is a translation Xi Jinping’s New Year greetings from Chinese into Russian and dubbing them for radio and television. I have been doing this for 6 years in a row. Despite the fact that this task usually finished only a few hours before midnight on December 31st, I invariably celebrate with a feeling of deep satisfaction. But still, like many expats living in China for a long time, I feel the real festive atmosphere in China only on New Year’s Eve according to the Lunar calendar. During my work, I received 3 certificates of honor, and for the translation of the commentator’s narratives of the solemn demonstration and the grandiose military parade in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC, I was awarded the Commemorative Medal “70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China”.

Timofey参观北京当代艺博会

我为中国国际广播电台做的最重要的工作就是将***主席的新年贺词从中文翻译成俄文并为广播电视配音，这让我特别引以为豪。我已经连续 6 年担任这项工作了。 尽管这项任务通常需要在12月31日午夜前几个小时完成，但我总是怀着深深的满足感。然而，像许多长期居住在中国的外国人一样，我也只有在农历的除夕夜才能感受到中国真正的节日气氛。工作期间，我获得了3份荣誉证书，并因翻译关于庆祝中华人民共和国成立70周年阅兵式的评论文章，被授予“中华人民共和国成立70周年”纪念奖章。

首先应加强内控管理的信息化建设，减少或消除人为操纵因素。通过引入信息化手段，将内控的主要流程及关键环节嵌入学校管理信息系统，通过这种潜移默化方式加强内部控制，从而实现对经济业务相关风险的有效控制。其次引进专门人才，做好管理信息平台的优化，实现信息在相关部门的共享。拓宽信息渠道，充分利用互联网优势，利用微博、微信、QQ等信息交流工具，使信息在管理层与基层师生间、各部门间充分传递无阻，同时不断丰富信息内容，及时对进行信息更新，增加全校师生参与学校建设的积极性。

我也一直与俄罗斯媒体保持合作，分析事件并始终努力保证我的观点没有偏见，数据准确。俄罗斯政府报纸《罗西斯卡亚公报》发表了我对2019年香港暴乱的文章和预测，这份预测引起了俄罗斯外交部的注意。

I also continue to cooperate with the Russian media in terms of analytical materials and always strive to ensure that my point of view is unbiased and the data is accurate. I was especially proud when the Russian government newspaper “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” published my article and predictions about the 2019 riots in Hong Kong. which attracted the attention of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

我还作为外交和政治专家为外文出版社提供翻译和编辑服务，包括与中国国务院新闻办公室的白皮书合作。我特别自豪的成就是，我参与了***主席的著作《***谈治国理政》的翻译和出版编辑工作。该书的第三部分最近以俄文出版了。这个意义重大的项目历时一年，只为打磨到完美。这是中国政府给予我的最大荣誉，也是对我的信任。

I also provide translation and editing services to Foreign Languages Press Publishing House as a foreign affairs and political expert, including work with White Books of The State Council Information Office of China. My special pride and achievement is that I have acted as one of the translators and as a publishing editor of the Xi Jinpin’s bookThe Governance of China. Part III recently published in Russian language. This project of great importance took one year to be polished to the perfect state. It is a greatest honor and symbol of trust from the Chinese government to me.

我可以为中国做些什么？

来到中国寻找机会的外国专家和个人时常问自己一个首要的问题，有时也是唯一的问题——“我们能从中国得到什么”。这是非常容易理解的，也非常务实的一种想法。但我在中国生活了近17年后，我的思维方式已经有了很大的改变。

What can I do for China?

Foreign experts and personnel arriving to China for opportunities asking themselves the main and sometimes the only question-“What we can get from China? ” It’s quite understandable and pragmatic approach. But during my almost 17 years living in People’s Republic of China I have changed the way of thinking for the better.

一步步地，我开始问自己，我可以为中国做些什么，又该如何做——我应该做不仅能改善自己生活，并能促进中俄关系的事情。在不断寻找新机会的过程中，这种想法帮助了我很多。我不断地学习，并且愈发渴望更好地了解中国的思维方式、习俗、商业和生活等方方面面。

Step by step I started to ask myself what and how I can craft something for China—something that will change not only my personal life and wealth, but also Sino-Russia relationship. This kind of approach has helped me a lot by finding new opportunities. I constantly study and eager to understand better the mentality, customs, business practices and all the aspects of life in China.

At the end of September I have visited Chengdu for the Foreign Experts Symposium. At this event I presented keynote speech with some thoughts for stabilization and development of this prosperous city and China.

我认为最近提出的“双循环”概念是最好的发展办法。“双循环”即一方面利用中国的消费能力，另一方面利用全球不同领域的人才和机构提供的智力和科学援助。中国的每一项技术——从半导体到农业，都应该扎实地应用，并采取全方位的安全措施。此外，中国迫切需要的是金融和经济领域的整合，逐渐转向复杂的国际竞争与合作。环境发展也同样需要地方、国家和国际的共同努力，因此就需要有更多国际专家建言献策。

I think recently proposed “Double circulation” conception is the best approach. Namely it’s about the using of consuming strength of China and intellectual and scientific assistance of global society of talents and institutions in different fields. Every technology—from semiconductors to agriculture in China should be applied in a solid manner, with full array of security measures. Also what is needed urgently in China is the integration in the financial and economic sphere. It is necessary to make a trendsetting of transition to complex interaction on regional and international levels. Environmental development also requires regional, national and international efforts and the more international specialists will be included in this process-the better.

贸易、经济、教育、交流和移民等领域的立法必须适应新时代新经济的现实要求。

Legislation in the field of trade, economy, educational and other exchanges and immigration must be adjusted to reality of new economy in a new era.

新冠肺炎疫情扰乱了供应链、摧毁了企业，使得国际贸易形势变得越来越严峻。如今，贸易不是为了发展，而是为了维持现状。从近期和长远前景来看，随着边境的关闭，新移民的人数预计会越来越少。

Recent years huge amount of talents and expats from Russian and other diasporas has left China. COVID-19 disrupts supply chains, destroys businesses, made international trade and connections more and more harsh not to develop but just to sustain. While the borders are closed fewer and fewer of newcomers are to be expected in a near-term and long-term outlook.

中国企业和组织不仅为特定项目和兼职工作引进学生、外国人员和人才，而且要让他们感受到包容，感到环境更为稳定，感到更被需要、更被关心，这一点很重要。我想长期居留许可证和社会保障服务不仅应提供给杰出的专家和总经理，而且还应提供给有才能的、杰出的毕业生。

It’s is important for China and Chinese businesses and organizations not only attract students, foreign personnel and talents for specific projects and part-time contract jobs, but make them feel the inclusiveness, make them feel more stable, more needed, more cared. Namely the long-term residence permits and social security services should be available not only to exceptional specialist and GMs, but also for talented and exceptional graduates.

世界的目光聚焦于中国，他们关注着中国在区域和全球层面上的包容性，愿中国与外籍人才共同携手，一起促进区域和全球发展。

All eyes are on China and its ability to achieve inclusiveness in regional and global growth and development. Together with foreign talents as an important assets and source of wisdom, hope China make it.