Historically, China and France have created brilliant civilizational achievements, like two bright lights that illuminate each other, and have built a bridge of communication between Eastern and Western civilizations through exchanges and exchanges.

On January 27, 1964, the two countries formally established diplomatic relations.

Sixty years later, we are standing at a new starting point. As two major forces in the world civilization, the sustained and healthy development of China-France relations will continue to set an example for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations between China and Europe and even the world.

　　On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, China News Service's "East-West Question" column has launched a series of plans, so please pay attention.

　　China News Service, Paris, January 25th: Title: Shen Dali and Dong Chun: "Ferryers" for Sino-French cultural exchanges

　　China News Service reporter Li Yang

　　On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, well-known scholars Shen Dali and Dong Chun, who have been promoting cultural exchanges between China and France for decades, are busy again.

China News Service's "East-West Question" recently conducted an exclusive interview with this elderly couple in Paris.

　　Shen Dali and Dong Chun are both writers and translators with numerous works.

Shen Dali writes in both Chinese and French, and his "Time Trilogy" - "Lily on the Cliff", "Meteor in the Night Sky" and "Dream Lake Love" - ​​has aroused great repercussions in French society.

His wife Dong Chun also translated in Chinese and French, and the two collaborated to publish 13 volumes of "The Aesthetics of Poetry and Painting"; she also served as a special commentator on French International Television for 15 years.

The study room of Mr. and Mrs. Shen is filled with their works and manuscripts.

They have all been awarded the French Chevalier des Lettres et des Arts.

Sylvie Bermann, the former French ambassador to China, said, "Both Dong Chun and Shen Dali are senior Chinese translators of French works and tireless transmitters of French and Chinese cultures."

　　The title "Ferryman" of Sino-French cultural exchanges "can basically summarize what Dong Chun and I have done over the years," Shen Dali told reporters.

He said that with the cooperation of the French Ministry of Culture and relevant people in the field of French drama, the two of them translated "Cherry Season", "Monserra", "La Belle Dame" and Victor Hugo's "The Man Who Laughs" and "The Thousand Dollar Bounty", etc. Many French drama works have been performed in China and received enthusiastic responses.

An introduction album for Hugo's plays "The Man Who Laughs" and "A Thousand Dollar Bounty" when they were performed in China. Both plays were translated by Shen Dali and Dong Chun.

Photo by Li Yang

　　Shen Dali told reporters that in 2002, Pierre Morel, the then French Ambassador to China, asked him to organize a commemorative conference for the 200th anniversary of Hugo's birth in Beijing. He contacted the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Peking University and other units and organized A report introducing Hugo was given at the conference.

At that time, the scale of commemorating Hugo "can be said to be greater in China than in France."

　　He said that in the same year, at the special invitation of the French Ministry of Culture, he and Dong Chun went to France to participate in the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Hugo's birth.

The commemorative event in France was held in Hugo's birthplace, the city of Besancon in eastern France.

On the train officially organized by France from Paris to Besançon, France's then Minister of Culture Tasca met with him and Dong Chun.

Tasca later wrote a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Shen to thank them for their contribution to cultural exchanges between France and China.

Mr. and Mrs. Shen still keep this letter.

　　Shen Dali introduced to reporters his latest book "Canglangquan Shadow" published this year. This book happened to be published on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The book is divided into seven parts, which brings together various kinds of works written by Mr. Shen in recent years. Articles, many of which introduce readers to the changes in French customs and customs.

The cover of the book shows a clear mountain spring, which is particularly conspicuous under the cover of woods.

　　Dong Chun translated many Chinese literary works into French and introduced them to French readers. In particular, at the request of the famous French sinologist René Etiemble, Dong Chun translated Su Manshu's novel "Red Tears at the End of the World" in the 1980s. Published by Gallimard Publishing House in 1989, with a preface by Ai Tianpu.

Shen Dali introduced that Gallimard Publishing House is still selling this book, which shows that French readers have long recognized Dong Chun’s translation and their love for Chinese literature.

　　The reporter saw two books they published on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Shen Dali's book is "French History" and Dong Chun's book is "Paris Mirror". Both books are included in the "Paris Collection" commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

"French Chronicles" describes all aspects of French society, as if seeing an all-encompassing human world.

"Through the Looking Glass" mainly focuses on Parisian scenery, which is a colorful kaleidoscope.

Two books published by Shen Dali and Dong Chun on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Shen Dali's book is "French History" and Dong Chun's book is "Paris Mirror". Both books are included in the "Paris Collection" commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

Photo by Li Yang

　　Dong Chun told reporters that decades of engagement in cultural exchanges have allowed her and Shen Dali to make many French friends. They come from all walks of life, including diplomats, writers, publishers, artists, etc. Everyone hopes to promote different cultures. They also hope to use this to promote people-to-people connectivity and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

On January 23 this year, she gave a special report at the Chinese Cultural Center in Paris to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The theme was "The Chinese Complex of the Belmondo and Sons", recalling the personal relationship between her and Shen Dali and the Belmondo and his son. camaraderie.

　　Dong Chun said that the Belmondo father and son's exchanges with China were a "wedge". Although it was not a "grand narrative," it vividly illustrated the depth of the people-to-people friendship between the two countries and showed the people's aspiration for friendship between China and France.

If China and France have a good foundation for people-to-people friendship, the relationship between the two countries will surely become stronger.

Both the Belmondo father and his son were connected with China because of art. Paul Belmondo is a French sculptor who once sculpted a statue of Premier Zhou Enlai. This history was experienced by Shen Dali personally; Paul Belmondo’s son Jean-Paul Belmondo is a famous French actor who has appeared in many movies and is familiar to many Chinese audiences. He reviewed his father's interactions with China through the Chinese documentary crew. This history was personally experienced by Dong Chun.

　　According to Dong Chun's recollection, the erection of a statue of Premier Zhou Enlai in Paris was first proposed by the British-Chinese writer Han Suyin in the 1970s. She promoted the matter through Chirac, the mayor of Paris at the time.

The French side handed over the work of making the statue to Paul Belmondo.

Shen Dali had a good relationship with Paul Belmondo, so he was able to understand many details of the production of the statue of Premier Zhou Enlai.

Dong Chun said that there were two major challenges in the production of the statue of Premier Zhou Enlai: first, the photo provided was a frontal image; second, the production time was very short, only two weeks.

But Paul Belmondo overcame these challenges and completed the sculpture.

In October 1979, the unveiling ceremony of the Zhou Enlai commemorative plaque was held in Paris. The upper part of the commemorative plaque was inlaid with a statue of Premier Zhou Enlai sculpted by Paul Belmondo. Below the statue, there were also three Chinese characters "Zhou Enlai" engraved, which were written by Deng Xiaoping himself.

In his later years, Paul Belmondo also expressed to Shen Dali his desire to go to Datong, Shanxi Province, China to see the Yungang Grottoes, but he died before the trip could take place.

Memorial plaque to Premier Zhou Enlai set up in Paris.

Photo by Li Yang

　　Dong Chun said that in 1995, Shanghai TV station sent a camera crew to Paris to shoot the documentary "Footprints of Great Men", and she helped invite Jean-Paul Belmondo to review his father's "China complex."

During the filming process, she served as a translator and had close contact with Jean-Paul Belmondo. She found that the famous movie star was approachable and talked about his father's carving of a statue of Zhou Enlai, which "moved everyone present." people".

Dong Chun feels that her interactions with Shen Dali and the Belmondo father and son can be called a good story of Sino-French cultural exchanges.

　　Shen Dali and Dong Chun told reporters that the 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France are also the 60 years that we have followed the Sino-French relations step by step.

Chairman Mao Zedong and General de Gaulle both had far-sighted strategic vision at that time. They considered the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France from the perspective of the future and destiny of the two countries and the future global pattern. This was the encounter between the two nations of China and France.

The friendship between Chinese and French people is also very sincere and profound. The important link here is the culture of the two countries.

China and France are both big cultural countries with long cultural traditions, which provides good conditions for Sino-French people-to-people friendship.

They hope that China-France relations will be stable and long-term after more than a decade.

(over)

Interviewee profile:

A recent photo of Shen Dali and Dong Chun.

Photo provided by interviewee

　　Shen Dali, professor, writer, historian, and literary translator at Beijing Foreign Studies University, was born in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province in 1938. He graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University (now Beijing Foreign Studies University) in 1960, and then stayed at the school to teach, serving as a professor of French language and literature, and a Ph.D. He is a student tutor and director of the Institute of Foreign Literature. In 1990, he became the president of the Sino-French Comparative Culture Research Association.

Since 1994, he has lectured at the University of Montreal in Canada, the University of Aix-Marseille in France, and the Institute of Oriental Languages ​​in France. He was rated as a first-level and third-level professor by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and a member of the academic committee of the Chinese Department of the Institute of Oriental Languages.

A large number of academic works, translations and literary works have been published.

Shen Dali devoted himself to the historical research of the Paris Commune, verified the authenticity of the "Paris Commune Wall" on an international scale, and corrected a major fallacy in the history of the international communist movement with conclusive evidence.

　　 Dong Chun, born in 1942, graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. He has long been engaged in Sino-French cultural exchange writing and literary translation. He founded the French journal "Silk Road" in Paris and served as the chief writer.

She is a member of the Chinese Writers Association and an honorary member of the French Journalists Association. She was invited by the French international television station TV5Monde to serve as a political commentator on the "Focus Forum" program.

He won the "Foreign Literature Translation Award" of the Lu Xun Literature Award.

Dong Chun has published dozens of translated works, including works translated from Chinese into French such as "The Collected Novels of Su Manshu" and works translated from French into French such as Goncourt's novels.