The Samoa Observer and the Chinese Embassy launched a Chinese version of The Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition’s book, “Our Heritage, the Ocean” yesterday at Vaitele. The writer was one of the speakers at the launch. This is what he said:

Your Excellency, Ambassador 

Wang Xuefeng,

First Secretary, Madam Tong 

Xin,

Distinguished quests,

Members of the Media,

Friends.

Greetings to you all.

Let me begin by saying, this is a very special day for us all, here at the Samoa Observer.

It is special, since today, we are celebrating history being made, right here, at the Samoa Observer, premises.

And this historical event, I am talking about here, as you are now all aware, is the launching of the Chinese language version of the book of short stories, titled “Our Heritage, the Ocean”.

Published originally in the English language, the book is made up of stories written by Pacific Islands authors, as well as others submitted by New Zealand, and Australian writers. 

And now that “Our Heritage, the Ocean”, is also in the Chinese language, I feel duty-bound to explain how this development that is decided to be cherished, had come about.  

The decision to have the book translated into the Chinese language, with the idea of making it available to the Chinese readership both in China and elsewhere, was that of the Chinese Ambassador for Samoa, His Excellency Wang Xuefeng, and the First Secretary, Madam Tong Xin.

As for “Our Heritage, the Ocean”, the book is the product of the inaugural short story competition of that name, that the Samoa Observer had begun two years ago.

In this year’s edition, 18 stories submitted by Pacific Island writers, as well as those submitted from New Zealand and Australia authors, will be published. 

Later, it is understood that the book’s Chinese version, will also be published. 

However, the knowledge that the book “Our Heritage, the Ocean” has been translated into the Chinese language, as well as subsequent editions of it as they come around, is so gratifying if feels as this is, a dream come true.

Which is why I like to say thank you one more time, Your Excellency, Ambassador Wang Xuefeng, and First Secretary, Madam Tong Xin, for making it happen.

Soifua.