Passingon Mandela’s Torch

　　Perseverance， tolerance and self lessness made Nelson Mandela’s life a legendary one.

　　On December 5， the 95-year-old icon of democracy，equality and freedom completed his lifejourney. After he inspired the world with peace， toleranceand love， the world returns to him an enormousoutpouring of respect and praise. His spiritmotivated generations of people like the light of atorch. He will be remembered for his contribution toall mankind. Passing on Mandela’s torch of freedom，equality and tolerance to solve conflicts and hatredin the world will be the best way to memorize thisgreat leader.

　　Mandela’s biggest contribution is the realizationof racial equality and national reconciliation in SouthAfrica after centuries of racial discrimination andsegregation. Mandela， who was born in a tribal chieffamily in southeast South Africa， led a decades-longstruggle against apartheid. He was jailed for 27 yearsand released in 1990 before going on to becomeSouth Africa’s first post-apartheid president in 1994.

　　He called for tolerance instead of revenge， andavoided a race war during the transition betweenthe old and new systems.

　　The world also treasures Mandela for his personalcharacteristics like selflessness and perseverance.

　　He never gave up his political beliefs during thedecades behind bars. He didn’t lust for power， andresolutely stepped down from the presidency aftera five-year term， but never stagnated in the struggleto better the lives of all people in Africa. In the process，he won their hearts.

　　Since South African President Jacob Zumaannounced the death of Mandela on the night ofDecember 5， Mandela’s residence in Houghton，Johannesburg， was crowded with people coming tomourn him and celebrate his life.

　　Security guard Milton Baron was part of the singingand dancing group. He said that they celebratedwhat Madiba (Mandela’s Xhosa clan name) had donefor the people. “He is an icon and the father of thenation，” said Baron.

　　Jeanette Hlangwane cried after laying flowers beforeMadiba’s portrait. She saw Mandela as father. “Iwas sad because I didn’t spend time with my fatherwhen he was with us，” she said.

　　Michael Baillie said that he had mixed feelings -sad for losing such an incredible man who had doneso much for the people， but glad that the man couldnow rest in peace. Baillie said that it was incredibleto see that Mandela’s passing united the nationagain.

　　Mandela was not only revered as “the father ofthe nation” by the South African people but alsowon the respect and admiration of people fromaround the world. More than 90 world leaderscame to the memorial service to honor Mandelaon December 10， and his funeral was the biggest inmodern history.

　　Mandela was an old friend of the Chinese peopleand a household name in China. He visited Chinatwice， and also was one of the founders of China-South Africa relations. In the 1990s， a popularChinese rock band wrote a song for Mandela for hiscontribution to human beings， inspiring generationsof young Chinese. Chinese people expressed deepestcondolences upon Mandela’s death.

　　After the passing of Mandela， Chinese Presidentmessages of condolences to South African PresidentJacob Zuma. They spoke highly of Mandela’shistoric role in the anti-apartheid struggle and thebuilding of a new South Africa， commending hisgreat contribution to the establishment and growthof China-South Africa ties.

　　Vice President Li Yuanchao went to the SouthAfrican Embassy in China to express condolencesand attended a memorial event held on December10 in South Africa as the Special Representative ofPresident Xi. The Chinese Embassy in South Africaflew its flag at half-mast.

　　Speaking at the memorial service held in FNBstadium in Johannesburg on December 10， Li Yuanchaopaid high tribute to Mandela， saying that theChinese will always cherish Mandela’s contributionto China-South Africa relations. “Mr. Mandela is thepride of the African people，” said Li Yuanchao. “Weare deeply saddened by the loss of such a greatfriend. At the same time， we are heartened to seethat the cause Mr. Mandela had started will be carriedforward.”

　　China and South Africa are both emergingeconomies， with their economic cooperation rapidlygrowing alongside closer political ties. In 2012， bilateraltrade reached nearly $60 billion， about 40 timesof what it was in 1998. China has been South Africa’sbiggest trading partner since 2008， while SouthAfrica is China’s top trading partner in Africa.

　　“China stands ready to work with South Africa todeepen the China-South Africa comprehensive strategicpartnership， bring benefits to the two countriesand peoples， and make positive contributionsto the noble cause of world peace and development，”Li Yuanchao said.

　　Mandela has finished his journey. But there is stillmuch to be done in South Africa and the world. Today，South Africa has many problems such as slowingeconomic growth， a wide gap between the richand poor， violence， high crime rates and corruption.

　　Mandela left a precious spiritual legacy of positiveenergy. By passing on Mandela’s legacy of equality，friendship， tolerance and reconciliation， people willbuild a more harmonious world that Mandela himselfwould have wanted to see.

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