九乡新闻网鼠猫古代生子完结篇:初到莱索托有感
来源：百度文库 编辑：九乡新闻网 时间：2024/05/06 06:23:54
010年12月22日，莱索托主流报纸《莱索托时报》发表了中国驻莱使馆政务参赞赖波的署名文章。作为一名到任两个多月的中国外交官，赖参赞以其独特的视角、生动的笔触，向当地民众介绍了自己对这个神秘高山王国的一些初步印象和切身感受。现将该文中、英文版附后登出。
初到莱索托有感
仅三个多月前，当我正在参观上海世博会太平洋联合馆时，得知自己将被派往南部非洲的莱索托常驻，心里实在有些激动，因为从来没去过莱索托，也没去过非洲。于是，连忙带着妻儿赶赴非洲联合馆，算是可以一瞥莱索托的模样了。我很快了解到：这是一个号称“空中王国”的国度，还是身处南非腹中的国中国；她有不少资源，如矿泉水、沙岩、玉米、土豆、马海毛、芦荟、鳟鱼，但最令人赞叹的是这里发现的特大钻石。不过，给我留下印象最深的却是那巴索托尖头草帽和形同尖头草帽的茅屋。
从上海返回北京后，我不停地在网上浏览有关莱索托的信息，还翻阅了好几本关于莱索托和南部非洲的书籍。有趣的是，我发现中莱之间似乎有一些历史、文化或者说民俗上的渊源。一些历史学家甚至提出：上述那种富有莱索托特色的巴索托草帽竟有其与东方接触的因缘。这种草帽很可能是从东开普所谓的“霍屯督华人”那里传过来的。我还得知，虽然华人华侨最近几十年经历了诸多艰难岁月，特别是1998年骚乱和2007年大选后出现的动荡，但他们仍坚持合法经商，与当地人民和睦相处，为莱索托的发展做出了自己的贡献。
在离开北京赴马塞卢前三天，中国全国人大外事委员会主任、前外长李肇星先生对我讲述了他在莱常驻的难忘经历和美好回忆。当时，他担任临时代办，负责建馆。因为馆里事多、人手少，他有时不得不充当自己的助手。业余时间，他还和同事们一起在院内植了许多树。李肇星一直纳闷当初他为什么能干那么多活，后来得出的结论是他那时正处于生命中最年富力强的阶段。他作为中国外长于2005年访问了莱索托，受到莱国王、首相、外长的热情接待。他还去了中国驻莱使馆。令他感到十分欣慰和欣喜的是，20年前栽的树如今已是硕大无比、遮天蔽日了。
后来，他送我一本自己主编的新书，名为《大人物、小故事》。该书编入了67位世界名人的故事，其中就有莱国父莫舒舒一世的一章。莫舒舒一世以其强烈的求知欲、面对困境表现出的坚强意志和足智多谋以及他将众多部落联合成为一个国家的丰功伟绩而闻名于世。
我乘坐的小飞机在莫舒舒一世国际机场着陆的那一刻，心目中呆了多时的土地终于揭开了面纱，融化着我的好奇与狂想。这时，我被此地优美的自然环境和宜人的气候陶醉了。接下来的一段日子，我在与妻儿视频通话时总会谈及这里清新的空气、茂盛的林木，缤纷的花朵以及婉转鸣啾的鸟儿，妻儿难以掩饰对我的艳羡。幸亏，他们打算在不久的将来到这里与我团聚。
到马塞卢已有一个多月，我对周围的环境感到越来越适应，越来越熟悉。我开始从使馆雇员那里学到一些简单的塞索托话。我还注意到巴索托传统与中国文化之间存在一些相似之处，这在一些谚语中有明显的体现。如巴索托谚语说：“急性子吃一只羊，稳健而考虑周全者吃一头牛”，意思是说成功来自精心的筹划和耐心的等待。如想一蹴而就，反会一事无成。在中国，我们也告诫人们：“欲速则不达”、“心急吃不了热豆腐”、“慢功出细活”。
还有一句巴索托谚语说：“一个人只有通过与他人相处，才能成为一个符合社会标准的人”。这意味着，一个人只有学会与社会中的他人相处、交流，才能成为社会一员。这与中国儒家文化强调合乎规范的家庭及社会人伦关系如出一辙。
最后，我们来看看当前中莱关系和互利合作的情况。我到任后，高德毅大使在多个场合向我介绍认识了好几位莱索托政府领导人。我发现他们与许多发展中国家的领导人一样，都在努力谋求国家的稳定和发展，期待逐步解决贫困、疾病等民生难题，有效提升人民生活水平。中莱两国有着良好的友好合作关系。自从1994年两国复交后，尤其是2006年中非合作论坛北京峰会召开以来，中国一直向包括莱索托在内的非洲国家提供大量力所能及的援助。援莱项目涉及会议中心、国家图书馆、议会大厦、广电网改造、学校、公路、电信等方方面面。中国还向莱派遣了农业技术专家和七批医疗队。这些努力体现了中国政府和人民对莱索托政府和人民的友好情谊。现在，两国经济合作与贸易关系也在稳步向前发展。中国政府鼓励和支持中国企业来莱投资，在莱经济发展中发挥更大作用。
今年对中莱关系来说是极富意义的一年。莱国王莱齐耶三世、首相莫西西里都分别率团出席上海世博会，访问取得圆满成功。世博会上，巴索托艺术家的传统表演赢得了广泛赞誉。
因此，莱索托离我们不再遥远。我们大家都应认真思考可以为深化中莱友好合作做点什么。我深信，在双方的共同努力下，两国在各领域的互利合作将呈现出更加美好的前景。
注：莱索托(Lesotho)是国名，莱索托民族称为巴索托人(Basotho)，巴索托人的语言称为塞索托语(Sesotho)。
附：英文
Thoughts of a Diplomat in Lesotho
JUST a little over three months ago, while visitingthe Pacific Joint Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in China, I got to know that I would be assigned toa country called Lesotho.
I was filled with excitement as I had never been to Lesotho before or anywhere else in Africa.
I immediately took my wife and son to the AfricaJoint Pavilion where I had my first glimpse of how Lesotho looked like.
I soon learnt that Lesothowas literally a kingdom in the sky and that it was also in the belly of South Africa.
I also learnt that it had abundant mineral water,sandstone, maize, potatoes, mohair, aloe, trout and most amazingly the bigdiamond.
But what impressed me most was the conical shapedBasotho straw hat and that thatched hut shaped like this hat.
When I was back in Beijingfrom Shanghai, I kept surfing the internet andbrowsing through several books on Lesothoand southern Africa.
Interestingly I found some historic, cultural andethnic linkages between Chinaand Lesotho.
Some historians even suggest that the conical shapedBasotho hat originated from contact with the Orient or was most probablyadopted from communities of so-called Chinese Hottentots of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.
I also came to know that in recent years Lesotho hasgone through trying times particularly during the 1998 riots and post-electiondisturbances in 2007.
The Chinese community in Lesothohas been going through their business lawfully, living in peace with the localpeople while contributing their share to the development of Lesotho.
Three days before my departure for Maseru,Li Zhaoxing, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the NationalPeople’s Congress and former Chinese foreign minister told me what fond memorieshe had of his posting in Lesotho.
He was then charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassywhich was still under construction.
Because there were so many things to do yet so fewstaff members with him, he sometimes had to serve as his own assistant.
In his spare time, he even planted many trees withhis colleagues in the compound.
Li wondered why he could do so much work and heconcluded that perhaps it was because he was in the prime of life.
As Chinese Foreign Minister, he visited Lesotho in 2005and was warmly received by His Majesty King Letsie III and Prime MinisterPakalitha Mosisili.
He also visited the Chinese embassy and much to hisdelight, the trees he planted 20 years ago had grown tall and shady.
Li later presented me with a book which he editedentitled Little Stories of VIPs.
The book also mentions Moshoeshoe I among 67 otherfigures of world stature.
It mentions that Moshoeshoe I was well known for hiseagerness to learn, his strong will and resourcefulness in dealing withdifficult situations and his historic feat in uniting different tribes into onenation.
The moment the small plane I took touched the groundof Moshoeshoe I International Airport, I knew that the land which had been onmy mind for some time was eventually unveiling itself, dissolving my curiosityand wild imagination.
Then, I was thrilled by the beautiful naturalenvironment and admirable weather conditions in this country.
In the days that followed, whenever I skyped throughinternet with my wife and son talking about fresh air, lush trees and variousflowers and chirping birds in our embassy compound, they could hardly concealtheir envy.
Fortunately, they plan to join me on vacation in thenear future.
Now it has been over a month since my arrival, I amgetting more familiar and comfortable with everything around me.
I have started picking up some few Sesotho words andexpressions.
I have also come to notice some similarities betweenBasotho traditions and Chinese culture, which are evidently reflected in someproverbs.
For instance, as a Basotho proverb goes:Lepotla-potla le ja poli, lesisitheho le ja khomo which can be translated thehasty one eats a goat, while the steady and thorough one eats a cow.
The proverb means success only comes from masterfulplanning and patient waiting.
You cannot achieve much if you are too hasty to getthings done.
This is quite similar to our Chinese proverb whichadvises people that ‘hasty makes waste’. If you are impatient you cannot havethe piping hot tofu. We also have a proverb which says fine products come fromslow, patient work.
I have also learnt that the Basotho have a proverbwhich says: Motho ke motho ka batho which means a person is a person throughother people.
It means that one can only become a member of thecommunity by living together and interacting with other people.
This is commensurate with the Confucian emphasis onproper familial or social relationship.
Finally let me comment at the matter of China and Lesotho’s bilateral relations andco-operation.
Since my arrival in LesothoAmbassador Gao Deyi has introduced me to several leaders of the government of Lesotho.
I have discovered that they, like many other leadersin developing countries, are putting tremendous effort to pursue stability andbring development to Lesotho.
Their aim is to essentially find solutions topoverty, disease and other tough problems affecting the people and effectivelyimprove the living standards of Basotho.
China and Lesotho haveenjoyed sound and friendly relations and co-operation over the years.
Since the resumption of diplomatic relations betweenthe two countries in 1994, particularly after the convening of Beijing Summitof the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation in 2006, Chinahas provided aid within its capacity to Lesotho and other Africancountries.
The projects in Lesotho range from the ManthabisengConvention Centre, the National Library, the new parliament building as well asschools, roads, broadcasting and television network and telecommunicationsequipment.
China has also sentagro-technology experts and seven groups of medical teams to Lesotho.
All these efforts testify to the good-will andfriendship from the Chinese government and people toward the people and governmentof Lesotho.
At present, we also see progress in bilateral tradeand economic co-operation between the two countries.
The Chinese government has been encouraging andsupporting Chinese businessmen to invest in Lesotho,thus playing an even more important role in Lesotho’s economic development.
This year has been highly significant inChina-Lesotho ties. His Majesty King Letsie III and Prime Minister Mosisiliboth attended the Shanghai Expo on separate occasions.
The traditional performances staged by the Basothoartists at the Expo won wide acclaim.
Therefore, Lesotho is no longer that far fromus.
All of us should think seriously about what we can doto enhance the friendship and co-operation between Chinaand Lesotho.
I firmly believe that with concerted efforts by bothsides, what lies ahead of us will be an even more promising prospect for amutually beneficial co-operation in various fields.
● Lai Bo is Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’sRepublic of China in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Before assuming his currentposition, he served as Deputy Director for policy analysis at the Department ofNorth American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Previously, he had worked at the Chinese Embassy in the Republicof Trinidad and Tobago and the ChineseConsulate in Los Angeles,USA .
初到莱索托有感
仅三个多月前，当我正在参观上海世博会太平洋联合馆时，得知自己将被派往南部非洲的莱索托常驻，心里实在有些激动，因为从来没去过莱索托，也没去过非洲。于是，连忙带着妻儿赶赴非洲联合馆，算是可以一瞥莱索托的模样了。我很快了解到：这是一个号称“空中王国”的国度，还是身处南非腹中的国中国；她有不少资源，如矿泉水、沙岩、玉米、土豆、马海毛、芦荟、鳟鱼，但最令人赞叹的是这里发现的特大钻石。不过，给我留下印象最深的却是那巴索托尖头草帽和形同尖头草帽的茅屋。
从上海返回北京后，我不停地在网上浏览有关莱索托的信息，还翻阅了好几本关于莱索托和南部非洲的书籍。有趣的是，我发现中莱之间似乎有一些历史、文化或者说民俗上的渊源。一些历史学家甚至提出：上述那种富有莱索托特色的巴索托草帽竟有其与东方接触的因缘。这种草帽很可能是从东开普所谓的“霍屯督华人”那里传过来的。我还得知，虽然华人华侨最近几十年经历了诸多艰难岁月，特别是1998年骚乱和2007年大选后出现的动荡，但他们仍坚持合法经商，与当地人民和睦相处，为莱索托的发展做出了自己的贡献。
在离开北京赴马塞卢前三天，中国全国人大外事委员会主任、前外长李肇星先生对我讲述了他在莱常驻的难忘经历和美好回忆。当时，他担任临时代办，负责建馆。因为馆里事多、人手少，他有时不得不充当自己的助手。业余时间，他还和同事们一起在院内植了许多树。李肇星一直纳闷当初他为什么能干那么多活，后来得出的结论是他那时正处于生命中最年富力强的阶段。他作为中国外长于2005年访问了莱索托，受到莱国王、首相、外长的热情接待。他还去了中国驻莱使馆。令他感到十分欣慰和欣喜的是，20年前栽的树如今已是硕大无比、遮天蔽日了。
后来，他送我一本自己主编的新书，名为《大人物、小故事》。该书编入了67位世界名人的故事，其中就有莱国父莫舒舒一世的一章。莫舒舒一世以其强烈的求知欲、面对困境表现出的坚强意志和足智多谋以及他将众多部落联合成为一个国家的丰功伟绩而闻名于世。
我乘坐的小飞机在莫舒舒一世国际机场着陆的那一刻，心目中呆了多时的土地终于揭开了面纱，融化着我的好奇与狂想。这时，我被此地优美的自然环境和宜人的气候陶醉了。接下来的一段日子，我在与妻儿视频通话时总会谈及这里清新的空气、茂盛的林木，缤纷的花朵以及婉转鸣啾的鸟儿，妻儿难以掩饰对我的艳羡。幸亏，他们打算在不久的将来到这里与我团聚。
到马塞卢已有一个多月，我对周围的环境感到越来越适应，越来越熟悉。我开始从使馆雇员那里学到一些简单的塞索托话。我还注意到巴索托传统与中国文化之间存在一些相似之处，这在一些谚语中有明显的体现。如巴索托谚语说：“急性子吃一只羊，稳健而考虑周全者吃一头牛”，意思是说成功来自精心的筹划和耐心的等待。如想一蹴而就，反会一事无成。在中国，我们也告诫人们：“欲速则不达”、“心急吃不了热豆腐”、“慢功出细活”。
还有一句巴索托谚语说：“一个人只有通过与他人相处，才能成为一个符合社会标准的人”。这意味着，一个人只有学会与社会中的他人相处、交流，才能成为社会一员。这与中国儒家文化强调合乎规范的家庭及社会人伦关系如出一辙。
最后，我们来看看当前中莱关系和互利合作的情况。我到任后，高德毅大使在多个场合向我介绍认识了好几位莱索托政府领导人。我发现他们与许多发展中国家的领导人一样，都在努力谋求国家的稳定和发展，期待逐步解决贫困、疾病等民生难题，有效提升人民生活水平。中莱两国有着良好的友好合作关系。自从1994年两国复交后，尤其是2006年中非合作论坛北京峰会召开以来，中国一直向包括莱索托在内的非洲国家提供大量力所能及的援助。援莱项目涉及会议中心、国家图书馆、议会大厦、广电网改造、学校、公路、电信等方方面面。中国还向莱派遣了农业技术专家和七批医疗队。这些努力体现了中国政府和人民对莱索托政府和人民的友好情谊。现在，两国经济合作与贸易关系也在稳步向前发展。中国政府鼓励和支持中国企业来莱投资，在莱经济发展中发挥更大作用。
今年对中莱关系来说是极富意义的一年。莱国王莱齐耶三世、首相莫西西里都分别率团出席上海世博会，访问取得圆满成功。世博会上，巴索托艺术家的传统表演赢得了广泛赞誉。
因此，莱索托离我们不再遥远。我们大家都应认真思考可以为深化中莱友好合作做点什么。我深信，在双方的共同努力下，两国在各领域的互利合作将呈现出更加美好的前景。
注：莱索托(Lesotho)是国名，莱索托民族称为巴索托人(Basotho)，巴索托人的语言称为塞索托语(Sesotho)。
附：英文
Thoughts of a Diplomat in Lesotho
JUST a little over three months ago, while visitingthe Pacific Joint Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo in China, I got to know that I would be assigned toa country called Lesotho.
I was filled with excitement as I had never been to Lesotho before or anywhere else in Africa.
I immediately took my wife and son to the AfricaJoint Pavilion where I had my first glimpse of how Lesotho looked like.
I soon learnt that Lesothowas literally a kingdom in the sky and that it was also in the belly of South Africa.
I also learnt that it had abundant mineral water,sandstone, maize, potatoes, mohair, aloe, trout and most amazingly the bigdiamond.
But what impressed me most was the conical shapedBasotho straw hat and that thatched hut shaped like this hat.
When I was back in Beijingfrom Shanghai, I kept surfing the internet andbrowsing through several books on Lesothoand southern Africa.
Interestingly I found some historic, cultural andethnic linkages between Chinaand Lesotho.
Some historians even suggest that the conical shapedBasotho hat originated from contact with the Orient or was most probablyadopted from communities of so-called Chinese Hottentots of the Eastern Cape in South Africa.
I also came to know that in recent years Lesotho hasgone through trying times particularly during the 1998 riots and post-electiondisturbances in 2007.
The Chinese community in Lesothohas been going through their business lawfully, living in peace with the localpeople while contributing their share to the development of Lesotho.
Three days before my departure for Maseru,Li Zhaoxing, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the NationalPeople’s Congress and former Chinese foreign minister told me what fond memorieshe had of his posting in Lesotho.
He was then charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassywhich was still under construction.
Because there were so many things to do yet so fewstaff members with him, he sometimes had to serve as his own assistant.
In his spare time, he even planted many trees withhis colleagues in the compound.
Li wondered why he could do so much work and heconcluded that perhaps it was because he was in the prime of life.
As Chinese Foreign Minister, he visited Lesotho in 2005and was warmly received by His Majesty King Letsie III and Prime MinisterPakalitha Mosisili.
He also visited the Chinese embassy and much to hisdelight, the trees he planted 20 years ago had grown tall and shady.
Li later presented me with a book which he editedentitled Little Stories of VIPs.
The book also mentions Moshoeshoe I among 67 otherfigures of world stature.
It mentions that Moshoeshoe I was well known for hiseagerness to learn, his strong will and resourcefulness in dealing withdifficult situations and his historic feat in uniting different tribes into onenation.
The moment the small plane I took touched the groundof Moshoeshoe I International Airport, I knew that the land which had been onmy mind for some time was eventually unveiling itself, dissolving my curiosityand wild imagination.
Then, I was thrilled by the beautiful naturalenvironment and admirable weather conditions in this country.
In the days that followed, whenever I skyped throughinternet with my wife and son talking about fresh air, lush trees and variousflowers and chirping birds in our embassy compound, they could hardly concealtheir envy.
Fortunately, they plan to join me on vacation in thenear future.
Now it has been over a month since my arrival, I amgetting more familiar and comfortable with everything around me.
I have started picking up some few Sesotho words andexpressions.
I have also come to notice some similarities betweenBasotho traditions and Chinese culture, which are evidently reflected in someproverbs.
For instance, as a Basotho proverb goes:Lepotla-potla le ja poli, lesisitheho le ja khomo which can be translated thehasty one eats a goat, while the steady and thorough one eats a cow.
The proverb means success only comes from masterfulplanning and patient waiting.
You cannot achieve much if you are too hasty to getthings done.
This is quite similar to our Chinese proverb whichadvises people that ‘hasty makes waste’. If you are impatient you cannot havethe piping hot tofu. We also have a proverb which says fine products come fromslow, patient work.
I have also learnt that the Basotho have a proverbwhich says: Motho ke motho ka batho which means a person is a person throughother people.
It means that one can only become a member of thecommunity by living together and interacting with other people.
This is commensurate with the Confucian emphasis onproper familial or social relationship.
Finally let me comment at the matter of China and Lesotho’s bilateral relations andco-operation.
Since my arrival in LesothoAmbassador Gao Deyi has introduced me to several leaders of the government of Lesotho.
I have discovered that they, like many other leadersin developing countries, are putting tremendous effort to pursue stability andbring development to Lesotho.
Their aim is to essentially find solutions topoverty, disease and other tough problems affecting the people and effectivelyimprove the living standards of Basotho.
China and Lesotho haveenjoyed sound and friendly relations and co-operation over the years.
Since the resumption of diplomatic relations betweenthe two countries in 1994, particularly after the convening of Beijing Summitof the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation in 2006, Chinahas provided aid within its capacity to Lesotho and other Africancountries.
The projects in Lesotho range from the ManthabisengConvention Centre, the National Library, the new parliament building as well asschools, roads, broadcasting and television network and telecommunicationsequipment.
China has also sentagro-technology experts and seven groups of medical teams to Lesotho.
All these efforts testify to the good-will andfriendship from the Chinese government and people toward the people and governmentof Lesotho.
At present, we also see progress in bilateral tradeand economic co-operation between the two countries.
The Chinese government has been encouraging andsupporting Chinese businessmen to invest in Lesotho,thus playing an even more important role in Lesotho’s economic development.
This year has been highly significant inChina-Lesotho ties. His Majesty King Letsie III and Prime Minister Mosisiliboth attended the Shanghai Expo on separate occasions.
The traditional performances staged by the Basothoartists at the Expo won wide acclaim.
Therefore, Lesotho is no longer that far fromus.
All of us should think seriously about what we can doto enhance the friendship and co-operation between Chinaand Lesotho.
I firmly believe that with concerted efforts by bothsides, what lies ahead of us will be an even more promising prospect for amutually beneficial co-operation in various fields.
● Lai Bo is Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’sRepublic of China in the Kingdom of Lesotho. Before assuming his currentposition, he served as Deputy Director for policy analysis at the Department ofNorth American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Previously, he had worked at the Chinese Embassy in the Republicof Trinidad and Tobago and the ChineseConsulate in Los Angeles,USA .