[Explanation] On June 17, Chinese translator Xu Yuanchong passed away, and another student from Southwest Union University passed away.
He was born in 1921 and went to study in the Department of Foreign Languages of Southwestern Associated University in 1938. He didn't really leave the UN until 1946 when he went to France to study. This period of schooling played an important role in his life.
When Xu Yuanchong was interviewed by a reporter from China News Agency before his death, he re-sang the Southwest United University anthem.
He said that his alma mater’s school song carries the goals of a whole generation of people.
[Live Voice] Translator Xu Yuanchong
Shame for a thousand years, it will be snow in the end.
Zhongxingye needs outstanding people.
There are 13 households, and it's hard to break.
[Explanation] More than 80 years ago, this university that pursued "independent personality and free thought" started classes in the flames of war, and Xu Yuanchong was one of the first students.
But when he and his classmates sang the school song back then, the mood was very different from today.
[Concurrent] Translator Xu Yuanchong
When you sing, you have to know that you are sad. It was sad when you sang it.
Japan occupied China on September 18th, and I graduated from elementary school.
I grew out of artillery fire during my middle school years.
Zhongxingye needs outstanding people.
Shame for a thousand years, it will be snow in the end.
There are four most important sentences in the UNU school song.
For a thousand years of shame, Japan has invaded us, and imperialism has invaded us.
We are for ZTE and revival.
[Explanation] To revive, to serve the country.
This is the original intention of many students from Southwest United University, including Xu Yuanchong, to study in the flames of war.
During the Anti-Japanese War, many students from Southwest Associated University signed up to serve together.
Xu Yuanchong is also one of them, undertaking translation work for American pilots in aid to China.
[Concurrent] Translator Xu Yuanchong
This is a photo of the United Nations General Assembly back then. Ye Gongchao is our teacher. Qian Zhongshu is also a teacher. He is the head of the department.
This was the secretary of the underground party committee of the UN General Assembly at that time. After liberation, he was the director of a historical institute.
This is me, this is him.
(I worked as an interpreter for the Flying Tigers) It was during the anti-Japanese fight against Japan. When I was an interpreter, I was a college student and went to the third year of university.
[Explanation] When New China was founded in 1949, Xu Yuanchong was studying in France.
After he finished his studies, he returned to teach in China and contributed to the construction of New China.
He did not hesitate in the slightest about whether to stay abroad.
[Concurrent] Translator Xu Yuanchong
I only came back after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It was Chairman Mao who called us to come back as soon as possible. We came back.
If you think about it, when I go out, when I am suffering, I can be strong when I can come back. What can I do when I stay in France.
(Stay in) How does it mean to learn for Chinese and foreign for Chinese use in France? What you learn in France must be used in China.
[Explanation] Nowadays, Xu Yuanchong has become "the only person in poetry translation between Chinese and French" and dedicated his life to Chinese translation.
The Southwest Associated University where he attended was less than nine years old, and there were only more than 8,000 students before and after. However, two Nobel Prize winners emerged, and there were more than 160 winners of two bombs and one star, and the country's highest science and technology award. Academician of the two academies.
[Live Voice] Translator Xu Yuanchong
These are all old classmates, Zhu Guangya, Yang Zhenning, this Wang Xiji, two bombs and one star hero.
At that time, Zhongxingye needed outstanding people. It was only Zhongxing. It did not expect to revive and exceed.
[Explanation] Xu Yuanchong said that the content of the Southwest Associated University's school song is the goal that their generation has struggled for.
China's achievements now are beyond their imagination at the time.
[Concurrent] Translator Xu Yuanchong
My century is the same as the Communist Party.
(At the time) How can I know that there is today?
I hope there will be (today), but I didn't expect it to be like this.
We are now on par with the United States, and we will surpass it in the future.
More than what the United States (at the time) could not imagine.
So you use the power of young people to move forward. It is still the old saying, good, better, best. Do it better and move forward as much as possible.
Reporter Wang Shibo Song Zhe reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]