Diplomat praises newspaper for building people-to-people relationships

By Talaia Mika 23 February 2019, 12:00AM

Departing Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, has praised the Samoa Observer newspaper for building people-to-people relationships.

Speaking as a supporter of literary excellence, which is promoted through the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition, he said the partnership was important in promoting and exchanging information and building the relationship between Samoa and China. 

Mr. Xuefeng, who was accompanied by his wife Madam Tong Xin, was speaking at a dinner hosted in his honor on Friday evening at the Vailima residence of Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa and Muliaga Jean Malifa.

 “In the margin for promoting the people to people exchange between China and Samoa, Samoa Observer was never absent and we will never be absent from you."

“We’ll be with you together forever to improve the understanding and the exchange between our two people, the exchange between our love and trust,” he said. 

Mr. Xuefeng acknowledged the role of the Samoa Observer Editor-in Chief, Gatoaitele – who founded the Pacific-wide short story writing competition in 2015 – and has seen it grow from strength to strength.

The Chinese Embassy, under the tenure of Mr. Xuefeng, did a Chinese translation of “Our Heritage, The Ocean” which is a compilation of top stories from the 2015 Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition. The Chinese edition of the book was launched in July 2017.

Gatoaitele thanked the Chinese Ambassador for supporting the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition and made special mention of the Chinese edition, which was a first in the history of the short story competition. 

As a Samoan resident for the last three-and-a-half years, Mr. Xuefeng and his wife said they will miss the country and the many friends that they are leaving behind.

“We leave our hearts in Samoa. It’s very difficult for us to say goodbye to all our friends in Samoa. We know we will leave at this moment, but we never mention to our good friends because we know they will be sad. We’re sad because we want to stay together for a longer time because we share the very deepest friendship,” he added.

The Chinese diplomat leaves Samoa this coming week. 

By Talaia Mika 23 February 2019, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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