The Chinese Embassy in Samoa is committed to sponsoring the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition in the future. 

The assurance came from Ambassador Wang Xuefeng when he launched the translation of the 2016 Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition book, “Only the Word Survives” in Chinese Mandarin on Friday. 

In the past three years, two books have been translated – “Our Heritage, the Ocean”, and “Only the Word Survive”. 

“There will be a new book every year collecting all the award-winning works in the competition and all the books will be put in ‘Our Heritage, the Ocean series,” Mr. Wang said. 

“With more and more books adding to the series, Our Heritage, the Ocean will become an important channel for people to get to know about the history, social customs, tradition and culture, religion, nature and many aspects of the reality of people’s life of South Pacific countries in a more vivid and interesting way from literary perspective.” 

Mr. Wang said he has been very impressed with the feedback from Chinese readers who have read the translated version of Our Heritage the Ocean, which was launched in 2016 and published in 2017. 

“For almost all of them, it was first time to read the literary work about Pacific Island countries and they were pleasantly surprised to know that even with tens of thousands of miles of the distance, what they read about the stories of the people of Pacific Island countries relate so much to those of their own, thus feeling closer in hearts with people who are actually so far away from them. When the second book Only the Word Survives came out, we again translated it.

“The story Only the Word Survives written by Mr. Savea Sano Malifa tells a moving story of a dog who risked her life saving Old Olympia, the precious long-standing old pal of the author, from the fire set off by the vicious people who wanted to destroy the newly-built newspaper office building.

“Other works in the book are also thought-provoking, inspirational and touching with various themes on love, hatred, fear, helplessness and struggle for life as well as yearning for better life.” 

Mr. Wang said translating the book is a labour of love him and his wife, and again they asked their son, Wang Ange, to paint the book cover. 

“We would like to express sincere thanks to all the people who have provided support and help in the process of the publication of the books. 

“In the future, we would like to continue our cooperation with Samoa Observer and make more contribution in pushing the already long-standing China-Samoa friendship to a new height,” he said.