文/李小龍（Setope So’oa’emalelagi，薩摩亞） 譯/張佳藝

我在薩摩亞的一個風(fēng)景如畫的村莊里長大，村莊叫Leulumoega，意為“安息之所”。薩摩亞是南太平洋的一個偏遠(yuǎn)島國，距離中國大陸約10399公里。歷史上，我長大的村莊在古代是地區(qū)酋長聚集和頒布習(xí)慣法的地方，人們逐級形成了家庭、宗族、村莊和地區(qū)，最后出現(xiàn)了政府。即使在殖民統(tǒng)治時期，當(dāng)?shù)氐奈幕瘋鹘y(tǒng)也并沒有隨著時間推移而被摒棄。對薩摩亞人來說，保留至今的政府制度是傳統(tǒng)的部落酋長制度與憲法議會制度結(jié)合的產(chǎn)物。在歐洲人到來和1830年書面文字誕生之前的約3000年里，薩摩亞指定的“都城”舉行的主要會議內(nèi)容是高度儀式化的事務(wù)，社會組織、演說家及其家人都會為此精心準(zhǔn)備，以確保每個人的發(fā)聲都能被聽到，社會的根基和分支都有發(fā)言權(quán)，領(lǐng)導(dǎo)地位得到保障和尊重。

I grew up in a picturesque village in Samoa called Leulumoega Tuai,literally translated as “the resting place”.Samoa is a remote island nation in the South Pacific,some 10,399 km from mainland China.Historically my village in ancient times was where district chiefs would gather and promulgate customary laws. People organized themselves into family units,clans,towns,districts,and finally,the government.Cultural traditions are difficult to discard over time,even during periods of colonial rule. For Samoans,the system of government which remains to this day is its traditional ‘Matai’ system or chieftain system mixed with a Constitutional Parliamentary system. For about three thousand years before the arrival of Europeans and the written script in 1830,chief conferences at designated ‘capitals’ in Samoa were highly ritualized affairs social organization orators and their families would make careful preparations to ensure that everyone’s views were heard,that the root and branch of society had a voice,and that leadership was secured and honored.

具有巨大包容性的兩會

2023年的中國兩會對我看待中國的方式產(chǎn)生了深遠(yuǎn)影響，讓我對中國的國家治理有了深入了解。全國人民代表大會及其常務(wù)委員會行使國家立法權(quán)；3月4日起的之后兩周里，近3000名人大代表聚集在北京人民大會堂這座宏偉建筑中。兩會在這樣一個歷史的、傳統(tǒng)的、非凡的標(biāo)志性政治場所召開，這一場面令我心生敬畏與尊重。

讓我印象最深刻的是中國在討論國家要事時的包容性，尤其體現(xiàn)在討論規(guī)模及范圍上，從經(jīng)濟到教育、全球多極化的愿景，再到優(yōu)先促進貧困國家的發(fā)展。在解決社會問題方面，中國不遺余力。正如受人尊敬的中國記者李晶晶（兩會召開期間全程進行了跟蹤報道）3月24日在北京接受采訪時說道：“中國是全過程人民民主，社會各階層都能參與到?jīng)Q策過程中來。兩會是人民決策、立法、選舉政府領(lǐng)導(dǎo)班子、向中央政府提建議的根本保證。”她還闡述了一些外國媒體往往忽略或擱置的問題，她說：“來自縣、市、省的代表在兩會召開前幾周就開始開會了，為什么？這是為了確保從底層到高層、從地方到中央，來自社會各階層的意見和建議都能夠傳到北京?！彼岬剿稍L了一位山東省一所農(nóng)村學(xué)校的女教師，這名女教師的主要人生目標(biāo)是改變農(nóng)村兒童的命運。15年來，這位女教師提出了240多項建議，一半以上的建議被寫入了中國的相關(guān)法規(guī)。令人想不到的是，這些建議范圍十分廣泛，包括改善學(xué)校設(shè)施、招聘合格的音樂和藝術(shù)教師以及招聘兒童心理學(xué)家等。

The Two Sessions with great inclusivity

The Two Sessions of 2023 have profoundly affected how I look at China and have given me an incredible insight into Chinese governance.The National People’s Congress (NPC) and its Standing Committee exercise national legislative power.From March 4,2023,and the last two weeks,nearly 3,000 deputies have gathered in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,a magnificent building.Two Sessions in such a historical,conventional,extraordinary landmark political venue,this scene makes me awe and respect.

What impressed me most was the “inclusivity”,the “scale”,the “range” of national issues discussed,from economics to family planning and a vision of global multi-polarity to boosting the development of poorer countries. In fact,in social matters,no stone was left unturned. In the words of respected Chinese international correspondent Li Jing Jing (who covered the entire conference) in an interview in Beijing on March 24,2023,“China is about ‘whole process peoples democracy’ involving all sectors of society in the decision-making process.The two sessions is the fundamental guarantee for people to make decisions,legislate,elect government officials and give proposals to the central government.” She articulated something which foreign media either overlooked or put in the out tray. She said “representatives from counties,cities,provinces meet respectively weeks in advance of the Two Sessions itself. Why? To make sure opinions and proposals from the full spectrum of society,from the bottom to the top and from local govemment to central government to make it to Beijing”. As if to reinforce her analysis,she cited interviewing a female teacher in a rural school in Shandong province whose principal goal in life was to improve a lot of children in rural schools. Fifteen years later,with over 240 proposals,over half of her suggestions have been written into Chinese relevant law. Astonishing! from improving school facilities to recruiting qualified music and art teachers to child psychologists.

兼具統(tǒng)一性和多樣性的中華民族

中國和薩摩亞之間的鮮明對比尤其體現(xiàn)在人口和面積方面。薩摩亞位于南太平洋中間，擁有20萬人口，土地面積為海南島的1/10，是世界地圖上的一個小點。然而，它與中國在外交、移民、經(jīng)濟和貿(mào)易方面的關(guān)系可以追溯到19世紀(jì)初。這讓我想到為什么兩會提醒人們，中國的友好快速發(fā)展對經(jīng)歷了幾十年的殖民時期的太平洋發(fā)展中國家來說會是重要的激勵。全國人民代表大會和中國人民政治協(xié)商會議分別召開，商討中國經(jīng)濟和社會在至少未來五年里的發(fā)展。與會者代表著中國這片廣袤而神奇的土地上的每個角落、每個省份和每個民族。這片土地確實充滿魔力，40年內(nèi)讓8億人脫貧，這不是一夜之間的奇跡。那是什么呢？看過兩會上苗族、藏族、蒙古族、回族、壯族人民自信地展示多姿多彩的服裝后，你的心里就會有答案了。這只是中國56個民族中的幾個例子而已。伴隨著在服飾、語言和信仰方面的自豪感，油然而生的是強國愿景和愛國主義。統(tǒng)一性存在于多樣性之中，中國在上下五千年的文明中確立了自己的發(fā)展道路。

The Chinese nation with unity and diversity

The contrast between China and Samoa could be so different,especially in population and size.Samoa is a speck on the world atlas in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean with 200,000 people and ten times smaller in land area than Hainan Island.Yet its relations with China’s diplomatic,migration,economics and trade date back to the early 1800s,which reminds me why the Two Sessions serves as a reminder that China’s warm rise is a important incentive for Pacific developing nations after decades of colonialism. The two key bodies,the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leadership,held separate meetings but at the same time,discuss China’s economic and social development for the next five years at least in The Great Hall of the People.The very people attending the Two Sessions represent every corner,every province and every ethnic group of this vast and magical land China. The land is magical,and lifting 800 million people out of poverty in 40 years is not a trick.So,what is it? You only must look at the diversity and colorful array of costumes proudly displayed by the Miao,Tibetans,Mongols,Hui,and Zhuang,to name several of the 56 recognized ethnic minorities at the Two Sessions. Loyalty to national aspirations and patriotism comes with pride in dress,language,and beliefs. There is unity in diversity,and China has set its course over 5,000 years of civilization.

3月13日，全國人大代表參加第十四屆全國人大一次會議（圖片來源：新華社）

以人為本的發(fā)展哲學(xué)

全國人民代表大會閉幕時，中國國家主席習(xí)近平在大會上發(fā)表重要講話：“我將忠實地履行憲法賦予的職責(zé)，以國家需要為使命，以人民利益為準(zhǔn)繩?！贝送猓?xí)近平主席還談到了一種促進人民平等的哲學(xué)和一種以人為本的發(fā)展哲學(xué)，以中國特色社會主義來開辟中國式現(xiàn)代化。南太平洋島國對中國發(fā)展為全球大國感到振奮，因為中國的援助和發(fā)展范圍是通過“一帶一路”倡議實現(xiàn)的。

未來五年會發(fā)生什么，時間會告訴我們答案。但無論如何，未來是光明的。正如薩摩亞酋長的一句諺語“通往領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的道路是服務(wù)”，這在2023年的中國兩會上得到了充分體現(xiàn)。

A people-centered philosophy of development

At the close of the National People’s Congress.The Chinese President Xi Jinping made an important speech at the closing ceremony of the NPC and he said,“I will faithfully fulfill my responsibilities bestowed by the Constitution,with the nation’s needs as my mission and the people’s interests as my yardstick”. In addition,President Xi Jinping spoke of a philosophy that promotes equality among people and a people-centered philosophy of development so that modernization is shaped according to socialism with Chinese characteristics.The South Pacific Island nations are inspired by China’s emergence as a global superpower as China’s range of aid and development is realized through the Belt and Road Initiative.

What the next five years have to offer,time will tell,but the future is bright,and as a Samoan Chiefs proverb goes,“O le ala I le Matai o le tautua” translation,“The way to leadership is through service” as was reflected in the Two Sessions of 2023.