1995年，葡萄牙波尔图与上海缔结为友好城市。 偏居伊比利亚半岛一隅的葡萄牙，虽在大航海时代早期有过辉煌历史，但从版图来说，是不折不扣的小 国。波尔图是葡萄牙第二大城市，在葡国的地位可类比上海，是葡萄牙北部的经济中心。 虽然城市体量差距很大，但波尔图与上海颇有相似之处。杜罗河就如黄浦江般穿城而过，城市风貌兼具 历史感与现代气息。相比从小渔村成为通商口岸，直至发展为世界级大都市的上海，波尔图也有着类似 的城市发展轨迹，从小城镇逐渐发展为大航海时代的重要港口。也正因为向海而生，上海和波尔图都有 着多元和包容的一面。海派文化融合了中西方，也是城市气质的核心元素，波尔图则在大航海时代吸引 了无数探险家和商人，也让城市具有多样性。 自由广场与河畔广场：大气与世俗的两副面孔 在葡萄牙，波尔图是不折不扣的大都会，占据葡萄牙总人口的1/5。早在公元前8世纪，杜罗河河口就已 有凯尔特人聚居，腓尼基人很可能将之作为贸易中转站。后来，罗马帝国将之征服，并打造为重要的商 业中心。 公元714年至716年间，波尔图被摩尔人征服。此后历经反复争夺，基督教于1092年彻底将之光复。 15世纪，波尔图成为欧洲最大的造船和海事中心之一。141 ...

Economic Overview - In 2021, China's GDP reached 114.4 trillion yuan, growing by 8.1% year-on-year, equivalent to approximately 17.7 trillion USD, accounting for over 18% of the global economy, solidifying its position as the second-largest economy in the world [1] - The historical context highlights that during the Song Dynasty, China accounted for 60% of the world's GDP, and even during the Qing Dynasty, it held 35% before being surpassed by Western countries due to the Industrial Revolution [1] Historical Context - The establishment of a unified state in China began with the Qin Dynasty, followed by the Han Dynasty, which defined the Chinese nation. Population growth was significant during stable periods, with the Han population increasing from 18 million to 60 million in about 200 years [3] - The Ming Dynasty saw a population increase from under 60 million to over 200 million by the early 17th century, while the Qing Dynasty's population grew from 120 million to over 430 million by the 19th century due to stable agricultural conditions [3] European Context - In contrast, Europe was fragmented into numerous feudal states post-1453, leading to frequent wars and a smaller population due to the instability of the "Dark Ages" [5] - The rise of the Ottoman Empire disrupted trade routes, increasing costs for Western nations, which relied heavily on trade with China for resources [5] Industrial Revolution - The search for new trade routes led to the Age of Exploration, with European nations seeking maritime paths to Asia, culminating in the discovery of the Americas by Columbus in 1492 [7] - The need for labor to process the vast resources from colonies prompted European countries to innovate and develop machinery, marking the beginning of the Industrial Revolution [7][10] - By the late 18th century, the introduction of the spinning jenny and the steam engine revolutionized production, leading to the mechanization of the textile industry in Britain [10][12] - The transition from hand production to machine-based manufacturing in the cotton industry was largely completed by 1830, establishing Britain as the first industrialized nation [14] Conclusion - The Industrial Revolution represented a significant leap in productivity and wealth creation, enabling Britain to become a dominant global power, often referred to as the "empire on which the sun never sets" [14] - The conditions that led to the Industrial Revolution were unique to Britain, as other nations lacked the necessary preconditions to replicate this transformation [14]