Chinese Language Is the Key to Treasure House

汉语是打开宝库的钥匙

Liu Jingsong

刘劲松

There is an often-quoted and widely loved story named Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves in Arabic folk tales collection One Thousand and One Nights. As we know, Ali Baba has a magic phrase "Open, sesame!", which could open the door of the treasure cave. But at present, many people joke the magic phrase can only work in Chinese language.

阿拉伯故事集《一千零一夜》里有脍炙人口的名篇《阿里巴巴和四十大盗》。大家都知道，故事里阿里巴巴打开藏宝山洞的魔法咒语是“芝麻，开门！”。但是现在，很多人开玩笑地讲，这句话恐怕得用中文讲才能打开宝库。

In last month, I attended "Chinese Bridge" — Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Students in Afghanistan, organized by the Confucius Institute at Kabul University (CIKU). Afghan students from college and high school impressed me a lot for their passion of learning Chinese and proficiency in practicing. I think they are getting close to open the door of treasure house.

不久前，我出席了喀布尔大学孔子学院举办的“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛阿富汗赛区预选赛，阿富汗大中学生学习中文的热情以及运用中文的水平令人赞叹。我想，他们已经接近打开宝库的大门。

Chinese language is spoken by largest population and one of the six official languages of United Nations. It's also one of the language that is most efficient in computer typing as well as striking the heart and love-sentiment-igniting. Moreover, Chinese language has a long history, rich connotations and fantastic poetry. It's worthy to learn and enjoy for a life-long time. As the reform and opening-up deepening, China's global influence and contribution increasing, and more Chinese cuisine and enterprises sprouting around the world, the Chinese language is becoming a career promoter for young talents in plenty of countries.

中文是世界上使用人数最多的语言之一，是联合国六大官方工作语言之一，是电脑打字效率最高的语言之一，还是最能打动人心、点燃爱情的语言之一。中文有绵长的历史、丰富的内涵和隽永的诗词，值得阿富汗朋友终身学习和享用。伴随中国进一步深化改革开放，伴随中国国际影响力和贡献力的增长，伴随中餐和中国企业在世界各地生根发芽，中文正成为各国年轻人职业发展的助推器。

CIKU is the only official Chinese education and culture exchange institute in Afghanistan. Since its first enrollment in 2008, CIKU has applied for 284 Hanban scholarships for Afghan students to study in China, cultivated 133 bachelors and 16 local Chinese language teachers. These achievements are miracles, while security situation around is so tough.

喀布尔大学孔院（中文系）是中国在阿唯一的教育文化交流机构。2008年招生以来，有284人获得中国国家汉办的奖学金赴华深造，培养了本科毕业生133人，还培养了汉语本土教师16名。面对阿富汗严峻的安全环境，取得这样的成绩堪称奇迹。

The miracles didn't fall down from the sky but came from everyone's arduous efforts. In 2010, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Rahnaward, the incumbent Executive Director of CIKU, was then a college student, and frequently went to the Visa Department of the Ministry of Interior to help with the Chinese teachers' visa applications. While there was a big explosion one day and caused mass casualties, he was just lucky enough to escape it. Later at the very beginning of his teaching career, Mr. Rahnaward had to teach 2 classes at the same time, 10 minutes in one classroom and then rush in the other. But he finally made it.

奇迹不是天上掉下来的，而是源于大家的拼搏奋斗。2010年，现在担任孔院阿方执行院长的展鹏还是一名学生，为帮中方教师办签证而常去内政部签证中心，不料中心发生爆炸死伤枕藉，他侥幸逃过一劫。在留校任教之初，有一次只有展鹏一人给两个班的学生上课，他这个班上十分钟，又跑到那个班上十分钟，就这样撑了下来。

Last year, the Chinese professor Gulinisha's husband passed away in Afghanistan due to disease. When she went back to China to arrange funeral affairs with sorrow, many friends persuaded her not return to Afghanistan any more. But she insisted on returning to Kabul just one week later, because she couldn't leave aside the responsibility and students here, and hoped to condole her husband with teaching achievements. Her story spreads wildly among the teachers and students in Kabul and encouraged every student learning Chinese language.

还有去年，孔院的中方教师古丽尼莎老师的先生不幸在阿因病去世。古丽老师忍着巨大悲痛回国处理后事，很多人都劝她不必再回阿富汗了，但她只在家待了一周便回到喀布尔重执教鞭，因为她放不下这里的责任和学生，希望用自己的教学成绩告慰爱人在天之灵。她的事迹在喀布尔学界广为传颂，激励着学习中文的阿富汗学子们。

Mr. Abdul Razaq and his younger brother graduated together from CIKU in 2013. His brother started a business in China, and promised him a salary of 1500$ per month to join in. However, Mr. Razaq chose to be an intern teacher in CIKU with a salary of only 50$ per month, which was just enough for his transportation to and from the university. But he persisted anyway, because he thought teaching Chinese language can help more Afghan people change their destiny and this is his highest dream.

阿布老师和弟弟2013年一道从喀大中文系毕业，弟弟已经在中国做生意，希望阿布加入，承诺他每月可以有1500美元的收入。但阿布却选择在喀布尔大学孔院当实习教师，每月只有50美元的工资，只够上班的路费。但是阿布老师坚持了下来，因为他觉得教汉语可以帮助更多的阿富汗人改变命运，这才是他最高的理想。

I spoke to the teachers and students of Kabul University that, Chinese language, especially its characters, are very charming. For example, the character of military or force in Chinese language means "stop the war", indicating that the military power is not used for bullying the small or the weak, but for stopping violence. "Afghanistan" in Chinese is translated both in pronunciation and meaning, implying that this is a rich mountainous country, built by work and sweat. This reflects Chinese people's good affection towards Afghanistan. The students from CIKU and Marefat School told me that they also have a deep affection to China and Chinese culture. Their favorite Confucius' phrases are "You can always find something to learn from the people who keep you company", "Harmony in diversity". They love eating dumplings and roasted duck, and appreciate Chinese people's characters of peace loving, respecting each other, being honest and keeping time. They adore Chinese superstars, such as Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, and Teresa Teng, and love singing The Moon Represents My Heart and Great China.

我向喀布尔大学的师生们讲，中文特别是汉字非常有魅力，比如汉字“武”是“止戈为武”，意即武力不是用来以强凌弱，而是用来制止暴力的。“阿富汗”的中文国名既是音译又有一定意译，意思是“这是一个靠劳动与汗水浇灌的富饶山国”，表达了中国人民对阿富汗的美好感情。喀大和玛利法特学校的同学告诉我，他们对中文和中国文化也饱含深情，他们最喜欢“三人行，必有我师”、“和而不同”的孔子语录，最喜欢吃饺子和烤鸭，最欣赏中国人爱好和平、尊重他人、守时诚实的品质，最青睐成龙、周星驰、邓丽君等演艺名星，最喜欢唱《月亮代表我的心》和《大中国》。

When I visited Kabul University and Bamyan University, I found that the most interested question of teachers and students is how can Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative benefit Afghanistan, and the largest expectation is to get more scholarships to study in China, and wish to know how could China realize moderate prosperity from poverty in only 40 years.

我在访问喀布尔大学和巴米扬大学时，师生们最感兴趣的问题是习近平主席倡导的“一带一路”将给阿富汗带来何种福音，最普遍的期待是获得更多赴华奖学金名额，最希望知道的是中国何以能在过去四十年里由贫穷实现小康。

I told them that the most beautiful construction in the world is bridge, and the "Chinese Bridge" and the Confucius Institute are such bridges that connect China and Afghanistan as well the heart of our two peoples. The most powerful tool in the world is the wing, and the Belt and Road Initiative could give Afghanistan who love China wings to fly their dreams. In recent years, the students, who are learning Chinese language in Afghan neighboring countries, are very excited about better career and income. The Belt and Road Initiative brings them projects and employment. However, opportunities can only be caught by those who are well prepared. Learning Chinese language is indeed not easy, but this also shows the value of perseverance. One of the experiences for China's achievements in the past 40 years is that we should remain true to our original aspiration, and always struggle arduously. Youths are dream pursuers. Dream pursing needs passion while realizing needs perseverance. Wish everyone have resolve and perseverance. May Chinese language a life-long partner, and open the treasure house of knowledge as well as happiness!

我向大家讲，世界上最美丽的建筑是桥梁，“汉语桥”和孔院就是连接中阿两国和促进民心相通的桥梁；世界上最强健的工具是翅膀，习近平主席倡导的“一带一路”就是让热爱中国的阿富汗各界人士拥有放飞梦想的翅膀。近年来，阿富汗邻国中学习中文的学生都很兴奋，因为他们的事业和收入都很不错。“一带一路”带来了项目和就业，而上天只会将机会带给有准备的人。学好中文确实不容易，但不容易才更显坚持的价值，中国过去四十年成就的经验之一就是不忘初心、艰苦奋斗。青年是追梦者，追梦需要激情，圆梦需要坚持。希望大家有决心、守恒心，让中文成为自己终身的伴侣，用中文打开知识与幸福宝库的大门。