孫國維
“新華社要把地球管起來,讓全世界都能聽到我們的聲音?!边@段豪言壯語發(fā)自新中國開國領(lǐng)袖毛澤東之口,時間是1955年。這一指示改變了我的人生軌跡。上世紀50年代高中畢業(yè)的我,抱著玫瑰色的夢想考上了上海戲劇學院編導系。當我正在跟著歐陽予倩院長見習導演杜鵬程的《夜走靈官峽》之際,學院領(lǐng)導找我談話說,新華社來院招人,要把我選送到北京去深造。當年凡有志青年都自覺聽從黨召喚。我就從此走上了國際新聞戰(zhàn)線,刻苦學習西班牙文和新聞業(yè)務(wù),到上世紀70年代進入駐外記者行列,遠涉重洋,去拉丁美洲的秘魯赴任。
他鄉(xiāng)遇良師益友
我興沖沖地乘機過境巴基斯坦卡拉奇,途中又停機在太平洋小島大溪地。當時,中國同世界各國交往的航線開辟很少。從大溪地起飛,還得繞道巴黎才能抵達秘魯首都利馬。雖然耽擱時間,但從旅游的角度看卻十分理想。第一次出國,異鄉(xiāng)他國一切對我來說都顯得十分新鮮。
對駐外記者而言,熟悉駐在國各種政府和新聞機構(gòu)乃至那里的人物、規(guī)矩,是首當其沖的必修課。交個同行做朋友更不失為使自己耳聰目慧的良策。經(jīng)多次打交道,我結(jié)識了當?shù)亍缎侣剤蟆分骶幇矕|尼奧·費爾南德斯·阿爾賽先生。他1931年出生于北方海洋王國特魯希略城,帶有印第安人的血統(tǒng),魁梧健碩,滿頭黑發(fā),雙目炯炯有神,顯得純樸憨厚。他自幼家道貧寒,靠賣報為生。憑著勤奮好學,成為優(yōu)秀記者,25歲那年當選為全國記協(xié)主席,并先后在幾家報社擔任主編。他十分關(guān)注新中國的發(fā)展和變革,常常在各種報刊上發(fā)表文章介紹新中國的成就,引起當?shù)厝A人社會的注意。
利馬的唐人街上有個“通惠總局”,領(lǐng)導著340萬華僑、華裔,占了秘魯人口的12%,其規(guī)模和影響力僅次于巴西的圣保羅。唐人街里有鱗次櫛比的中餐館,還有中藥鋪,以及敬老院,為無依無靠的華僑老人解決晚年生計。逢年過節(jié),唐人街里張燈結(jié)彩,龍騰虎躍,喜氣洋洋,成為當?shù)厝A人的盛大節(jié)日。安東尼奧對此既羨慕又同情。他通過生動的筆墨描述了中華文明在世界各地的傳播,因而受到華人的尊敬和愛戴。利用外出采訪時與他見面的機會,我邀請他來新華分社茶敘,有時也主動上門到他的辦公室聊天。向他請教各種各樣的問題。他會滔滔不絕地向我介紹秘魯?shù)母鞣N名勝古跡和自然奇跡,如馬丘比丘——失落的文明、納斯卡的山坡巨畫……對于國內(nèi)外形勢的看法當然是經(jīng)常談?wù)摰闹黝}。他知無不言,善解人意,能熱情主動地幫助你解決一些疑難。一來二往,他成了我的良師益友。有時,他還親手做生魚片(當?shù)孛私凶觥蚌w?切”)來招待客人。為了拓展拉美報道,新華社擬物色當?shù)嘏笥褋肀本┛偵鐡V西班牙文專家,安東尼奧自然成了分社邀請的對象。
周總理營救梅梅
1960年底,安東尼奧和一批拉丁美洲記者應(yīng)邀訪問中國,并受到毛澤東主席的接見。他爽快接受要他赴京擔綱西文專家邀請的動力多半來自毛澤東在他心目中的崇高威望。1967年,他再次來到北京,先后在中央人民廣播電臺和新華社對外部工作。三年后的春天,周恩來總理接見并宴請一些在華工作的國際友人。安東尼奧一人應(yīng)邀出席,沒有帶夫人??偫硌勖餍募殹M帐謺r隨口問及。安東尼奧只好如實回答:因為剛出生的女兒梅梅患了敗血癥正在治療,由夫人照顧在側(cè)。后來梅梅的病情越來越嚴重,總理知道后吩咐有關(guān)單位務(wù)必全力搶救。當時梅梅需要反復輸血。但血庫里所存的能與梅梅血型匹配的血漿已快吿罄,解放軍駐京部隊某部指戰(zhàn)員聞訊趕來,爭先恐后為梅梅獻血。從人民子弟兵的血管里流淌出來的滴滴鮮血,通過輸血管緩緩進入梅梅體內(nèi),病人終于轉(zhuǎn)危為安,不久就脫離險境。
安東尼奧曾對我說:“周總理是一位巨細無遺且事必躬親的共和國好管家。在搶救梅梅的那些日子里,即使他日理萬機,仍然念念不忘梅梅的病情,多次詢問,直到他得知梅梅已經(jīng)痊愈出院,才放下心來,并托人捎口信向我表示祝賀?!?/p>
40年前的9月9日,毛澤東與世長辭。小巧琳瓏的梅梅身穿素服來到中國駐秘大使館的靈堂參加吊唁,我隨手拍下了一張珍貴的照片。
再過20年,我作為南京礦業(yè)公司的向?qū)Ъ娣g重返秘魯,希冀在安第斯山的金礦開發(fā)方面與臺灣礦業(yè)公司合作。我在利馬又見到梅梅和她的父親安東尼奧。安東尼奧是特地從中國趕來為這一商業(yè)考察活動自告奮勇當顧問的。我們相約在他家聚會,相互熱烈擁抱。梅梅此時已出落得亭亭玉立了。她在一家律師事務(wù)所工作。她說:“能在自己家再次見到孫叔叔真是意外的高興!我愿意為中國礦業(yè)公司在秘魯?shù)慕?jīng)營活動充當法律顧問,以盡綿薄之力。因為我這條命也是中國人給的嘛!”這番話讓在座的朋友聽了十分感動。可見,他們父女倆真是十足的“親華派”了。
穿針引線搭金橋
中國人民的真情厚誼使安東尼奧抱定宗旨,一定要為秘中兩國的友好事業(yè)奮斗終生。正因為如此,他對新聞和外交以及寫作都一絲不茍,兢兢業(yè)業(yè),真正做到了“春蠶到死絲方盡,蠟炬成灰淚始干”。這是一位外國友人、“中國人民的老朋友”所發(fā)揚的精神,真是難能可貴!
1970年,安東尼奧接獲家書,決定返回秘魯家鄉(xiāng),前往特魯希略探望病重的父親。臨行前,周總理邀請他一起喝茶為他送行。茶敘中,周總理明確表示,中方愿意擴大與秘魯?shù)慕煌?,并提出中秘建交的原則,希望安東尼奧將此轉(zhuǎn)達給秘魯政要。為此,安東尼奧在途經(jīng)香港時,特地通過秘魯駐港領(lǐng)事將自己的身份和中方信息傳遞給秘魯政府。當安東尼奧乘坐的客機抵達利馬機場時,總統(tǒng)府的專車已經(jīng)停靠在停機坪側(cè)。他在家鄉(xiāng)接到來自總統(tǒng)府的回函,明確答復:秘魯政府同意中方提出的建交原則,表示愿意與中國建交。通過安東尼奧的穿針引線,中秘兩國終于在1971年的11月2日宣布正式建立外交關(guān)系。為此,立下汗馬功勞的安東尼奧回到北京,立刻被任命為秘魯駐華商務(wù)代表處的顧問。通過多年的努力,中國已經(jīng)成為秘魯?shù)牡诙筚Q(mào)易伙伴和第二大出口國。雙邊貿(mào)易額早已超過20億美元。
從1983年開始,安東尼奧受聘于新華社國際部。他在辦公室里操作打字機,滴滴答答的打字聲像一首首優(yōu)美的樂曲不絕于耳,每篇稿子經(jīng)過他的修改,總能成為好稿。這不僅是因為他的寫作態(tài)度十分嚴謹,而且反映出他對于中國的熱愛。尤其在報道中國的成就時,他總會流露出一種驕傲和快慰。平時,他會花很多業(yè)余時間注重培養(yǎng)西文翻譯和新聞人才。他數(shù)十年如一日的敬業(yè)精神和忘我勞動的工作態(tài)度令周圍的同事肅然起敬。他通過采訪,撰寫了大量有關(guān)中國建設(shè)成就和創(chuàng)造發(fā)明的稿件,發(fā)表在中國對外的西文雜志《今日中國》和《中國建設(shè)》以及秘魯和西班牙的報刊上。在中秘建交40周年的2011年,由安東尼奧撰寫,用中、英、西班牙三種文字編寫的畫冊《到永恒的紀念碑——長城和馬丘比丘》正式出版。在這本畫冊中,安東尼奧運用拉美人能夠理解的方式形象地描述長城的宏偉壯麗。他說:“要想對這一浩大工程形成一個概念,不妨設(shè)想,順著安第斯山脈那蜿蜒起伏的峰巒興建一個從哥倫比亞綿延到巴塔哥尼亞,寬6至10米,高20米以上的巨大磚石工程……”
2016年11月,習近平主席先后訪問秘魯和智利兩國。他于當月21日登上秘魯國會講壇發(fā)表題為《同舟共濟、揚帆遠航,共創(chuàng)中拉關(guān)系美好未來》的演講,其中就特別提到新華社的秘魯專家安東尼奧先生,贊揚他為中秘友好事業(yè)作出的貢獻。可見凡是對為中國的建設(shè)和改革做出過貢獻的外國友人,中國人民總是不會忘記的。安東尼奧孜孜不倦地追求秘魯夢和中國夢,一心為中秘友好事業(yè)貢獻畢生精力的偉大抱負,值得被兩國人民傳頌。他在中秘兩國人民的心中留下了美好的音容笑貌。
安東尼奧在北戴河休養(yǎng)時,因與他的西文翻譯胡維玲小姐雙雙墜入愛河而喜結(jié)連理。不久,又添了愛情結(jié)晶,產(chǎn)下了一個面色紅潤的英俊男寶。安東尼奧在退休之前就表示要在中國安度晚年,專家局特地為他在京東世紀城一個叫做春蔭園的噴泉花園小區(qū)安排了一套寬敞住宅,讓他安享天倫之樂。這個安樂窩既是他的愛巢,又是他的詩窩,也是他與親朋好友的聚會場所。每當有拉美朋友來中國旅游訪問時,總喜歡在他家中落腳。一席秘魯餐,一包花生米,一箱青島啤酒,就可以談天說地,把酒臨風。有時還歡聲笑語,載歌載舞,直到東方發(fā)白。
2014年5月14日晚,安東尼奧在他的故鄉(xiāng)特魯希略安然仙逝。在走完人生83個春秋之后,他悄然離開這個他所摯愛的世界。生前他曾對我說,他死后愿將自己的骨灰,一半撒在頤和園的昆明湖,讓他天天聽到來湖游玩的中外游客的歡聲笑語;另一半撒在安第斯山麓,讓他枕著白雪皚皚的山頭,瞭望世界人民最終過著幸福和平的生活?;曩鈿w來,我的朋友!
“The Xinhua News Agency should aim high so that the voice of China can reach all people in the world,” Chairman Mao proclaimed in 1955. His brave words changed my life after graduation from high school. When I was working with Ouyang Yuqian, the dean of Shanghai Theatre Academy at the time - as an intern director for the production of a film by Du Pengcheng - the faculty leader recommended me to join the Xinhua News Agency team in Beijing. That was the start of my journey in the international journalistic front. I joined the agencys foreign correspondents team in the 1970s and spent many years in Peru, where I met Antonio.
After passing through Marachi, Pakistan and a quick transfer at Tahiti, the plane made a detour in Paris before finally landing in Lima, the capital city of Peru. The journey was time-consuming, but it was a lot of fun for someone who had never set his foot outside China.
Shortly after I settled down in the exotic land, I made several friends from the local journalist circle. One of them was Antonio, a muscular, good-natured man who was born in Trujillo into a poor family with Indian lineage. The hardworking man was elected chairman of Peru Journalists Association when he was only 25, and was the chief editor of several local newspapers. He always kept a watchful eye on the goings-on of China, writing articles for various newspapers to share the accomplishments of China with the locals as well as the Chinese community in Peru.
The administration office of the 3,400,000 Chinese that accounted for 12% of the population of Peru was located in the Chinatown in Lima. The Chinese life in the Chinatown, which had everything from Chinese restaurants and TCM shops to nursing homes for the aged, fascinated Antonio. Whenever I got a chance to meet him, Id invite him to have a tea break in my office. The considerate, helpful and passionate man made my Peru life colorful and rewarding, and I did not hesitate when I was asked to recommend a local journalist to take the position of a Spanish expert in the Beijing headquarters of Xinhua News Agency.
A huge fan of Chairman Mao, Antonio joined a Latin journalist delegation in the winter of 1960 on a trip to China. He started his work at the China National Radio and Xinhua News Agency in 1967. At a state banquet, Premier Zhou Enlai noticed that Antonio was there without bringing his wife. After learning that his wife had to stay at home to take care of their sick baby girl who was suffering from sepsis, the premier did what he could to save the girls life. “Premier Zhou was the best ‘housekeeper of the New China,” Antonio recalled with affection.
During my revisit to Peru in the 1990s as the local guide and interpreter of a delegation from Nanjing Mining Company, I met Antonio and his beaul daughter who was then working in a law firm. The girl volunteered to act as the legal adviser for the companys operation in Peru. “I will always remember that Chinese people saved my life,” said the girl.
Antonio went back to Peru to see his sick father in his hometown in 1970. His meeting with Premier Zhou Enlai before leaving turned out to be a cornerstone in the diplomatic relation between China and Peru. When transferring in Hong Kong, Antonio forwarded the information about Chinas willingness in intensifying China-Peru relation through the Peru Consulate in Hong Kong to the Peru government. Antonios active role as a go-between contributed a lot to the formal establishment of China-Peru diplomatic relation on November 2, 1971. Today, China is the second largest trade partner and export destination of Peru. Bilateral trade volume of the two countries has topped two billion USD.
Antonio joined the International Department of Xinhua News Agency in 1983. In , published in 2011 in celebration of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Antonio expressed his love and respect for China and the Chinese people by comparing the Great Wall to the 15th-century Inca citadel that was declared a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Antonios ‘China Dream reached its second climax in Beidaihe, where he fell in love with his interpreter. The two tied the knot, had an adorable son, and spent many happy years in their apartment in Beijing.
Antonio passed away at the age of 83 in his hometown on May 14, 2014. “I hope half of my ashes will rest peace in the Kunming Lake of the Summer Palace in Beijing and half will be scattered on the Andes Mountains,” he said to me.