聶子瑞（Erik Nilsson，美國），《中國日報》資深記者，紀實作家，代表作《太陽升起：“美國小哥”見證中國扶貧奇跡》，中國政府友誼獎獲得者。

事實上，于我個人而言，能在人民大會堂報道中共十九大，并在中共二十大期間為《中國日報》全國版和全球版的頭版編輯團隊出力，是我的榮幸。

對于《中國日報》的所有人來說，我們明白作為世界一流的媒體之一，向世界宣傳報道二十大的意義和重要性。

十九大時，我在大會現(xiàn)場創(chuàng)作的《中國日報》視頻，特別是《艾瑞克跑十九大》系列，以及我和當時8歲的女兒“小莉莉”一起制作的《改變中國：成長，向前》系列，在網(wǎng)上獲得了上億的播放量。我寫的關(guān)于這些事件的分析報告也在世界各地以多種形式被廣泛閱讀。

我對十九大的報道重點是，在第一個百年奮斗目標即全面建成小康社會的過程中已經(jīng)取得的進展以及下一步工作。顯然，中國已經(jīng)實現(xiàn)了這一目標。

今年二十大的重點是全面建設社會主義現(xiàn)代化國家，向第二個百年奮斗目標進軍。根據(jù)我在過去16年中走遍中國的經(jīng)驗，我毫不懷疑，中國將如期實現(xiàn)這一目標。

我最近意識到，當中國實現(xiàn)第二個百年奮斗目標時，我的女兒正好是我現(xiàn)在39歲的年齡。這提醒我，中國共產(chǎn)黨的使命不僅是提高改善20世紀貧困農(nóng)民或本世紀所有人民的生活，更是為了子孫后代。這不僅延伸到整個國家，更延伸到整個世界。

剛剛結(jié)束的大會不僅概述了現(xiàn)代化和偉大復興的宏偉構(gòu)想，而且還明確闡述了黨將如何領(lǐng)導國家實現(xiàn)這些目標。例如，它解釋了科技創(chuàng)新將如何推動持續(xù)增長和發(fā)展，這有助于確保中國不會陷入任何類型的 “中等收入陷阱”。

得益于技術(shù)進步，《中國日報》拍攝了第一部使用XR技術(shù)報道大會的視頻，作為節(jié)目的共同主持人，我很開心，這是我們媒體集團新時代斯諾工作室的一個項目，我很榮幸能成為該工作室的核心成員。中國日報社于2021年6月成立的工作室旨在讓一流的國際記者和專家能夠向世界講述真實的中國故事，特別是基于他們在該領(lǐng)域的親身經(jīng)歷來講述。能夠與如此杰出的國際人才一起工作，講述真實的中國故事及其對全球的影響，確實是我的榮幸。

事實上，作為新時代斯諾工作室的一員，我認為講好中國故事并不只是一份任務，甚至不只是一份工作，而是一份人生使命。這份使命，促使我前往位于四川的中國最后一個與公路系統(tǒng)相連的村莊、新疆的廣闊沙漠和福州的狹窄小巷。

我在中國的這些年證明，中國是一個值得期待意外之喜的地方，也是一個永遠不應該說 “從未”的地方。16年前，也就是我從美國來到中國之前，有許多事情是我從未想象過的。但中國是一個“從未”都可以實現(xiàn)的地方。

我從未想過，我會穿越地震災區(qū)，在亂葬崗中慶生，去青藏高原為當?shù)貙W校供電，或者去購物、騎行、擠奶，甚至被牦牛踢到。

我從未想過，我會成為有史以來最年輕的中國政府友誼獎獲得者。這是中國政府授予外國專家的最高榮譽，以表彰他們對中國社會和經(jīng)濟發(fā)展所作出的貢獻。

我從未想過，我創(chuàng)作的中國日報視頻會收到數(shù)以億計的播放量。

我也從未想過，我的書《太陽升起：“美國小哥”見證中國扶貧奇跡》會成為一本暢銷書，在中國頂級媒體的數(shù)百個視頻和報道中出現(xiàn)，甚至一度成為微博上的第二大熱門。

這并不是一本介紹中國的典型著述，而是我在訪問鴕鳥競技場、麻風村和農(nóng)民經(jīng)營的虛擬現(xiàn)實公園時，發(fā)現(xiàn)的有關(guān)中國發(fā)展的意想不到的方方面面。

我探索了改革開放史，它以出乎意料的方式推動了中國扶貧奇跡。我加入了 “棒棒軍”，并在沿長江經(jīng)濟帶旅行時用一架帶操縱桿的無人機攝像機拍攝。這些旅程都是冒險。它們把我從地震災區(qū)的黑暗帶向光明，從美國到 “世界屋脊”，更接近天堂的地方。它們是以一手資料介紹中國如何讓那么多人脫離貧困這個地獄，走向幸福生活的天堂。

我很高興書的中文和英文的第一版很快就銷售一空，五洲傳播出版社不僅將其列入“新時代的馬可·波羅”叢書，還以新時代斯諾工作室的名義重印，并增加了新的內(nèi)容。

我在《太陽升起》一書中寫道，在過去的16年中，我走訪了中國各省份的偏遠地區(qū)，講述了中國扶貧奇跡的故事，并為之作出貢獻。同時，在鴕鳥、馬、駱駝和牦牛的背上，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了這個國家的沙漠、山脈、森林和苔原。

這促使我11年前在玉樹曲麻萊縣發(fā)起了志愿者活動，向沒有電的學校捐贈太陽能電池板、電腦、圖書館、食物、衣服、煤炭、藥品、教室設備、3G Wi-Fi，甚至還有牦牛。隨著政府解決了這些物質(zhì)上的“硬件”問題，我們團隊已將重點轉(zhuǎn)移到為牧民子女提供全額大學獎學金，以及為游牧民族的殘疾兒童提供手術(shù)、輪椅、假肢和治療。

同樣，我從未想過，中國能夠克服如此不可思議的地質(zhì)困難，在曲麻萊縣和全國各地實現(xiàn)這一目標。然而，中國做到了，正如我看到和從實地親身體驗到的那樣。

中國的扶貧奇跡不僅僅是今年的故事，更是十年的故事，是世紀的故事。它不僅是中國人的故事，也是我們?nèi)祟惖墓适隆?/p>

見證這一切，講述這個故事，我為自己貢獻的微薄之力感到榮幸。這也是我以前從未想過的。這再次表明，中國確實是一個將“從未”實現(xiàn)的地方。

但是，消除絕對貧困只是中國第一個百年奮斗目標的支柱之一。

我期待著在未來幾年甚至幾十年繼續(xù)講述中國故事，并為中國的進步貢獻自己的力量。

除了著作、視頻和演講之外，我還計劃再寫幾本書。我對共同富裕這一點非常感興趣，這不僅能確保從前難以脫貧的人口不會重新陷入絕對貧困，而且也是中國下一步的發(fā)展方向。共同富裕之于第二個百年奮斗目標，正如消除絕對貧困之于第一個百年奮斗目標，雖不是全局，卻是支撐整體結(jié)構(gòu)的必要基石。它是現(xiàn)代化的主要支柱，因為中國正在解決人民日益增長的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的發(fā)展之間的矛盾。

我雖然不是中國人，但我從親身經(jīng)歷中意識到，中國夢，無論是個人的還是共同的，都屬于世界上的所有人，也就是說，它屬于我們所有人。

因此，我今后工作的另一個重點，特別是在二十大之后，將是幫助世界了解中國的現(xiàn)代化如何為大家打造一個更美好的世界，不論你我，不論身在何處，最終，朝著人類共同的未來邁進。

Indeed,for me personally,it has been an honor to cover the 19th Party congress forChina Dailyfrom the front lines of such venues as the Great Hall of the People,and to work on the editing team for the front pages ofChina Daily’snational and global editions during the 20th CPC congress.

And for all of us atChina Daily,we understood the importance of our role as one of the top world-class media groups telling the story of what the congresses meant and will mean for the country and the world we all share.

The China Daily videos I created from the field for the 19th Party congress,and especially the series,Progress Points: Looking Back,Moving Forward,and another series I did with my then 8-year-old daughter “l(fā)ittle Lily”,Changing China: Growing Up,Going Forward,received hundreds of millions of views online.And the analyses I wrote about these events were also widely read around the world in print and digital formats.

The focus of my coverage of the 19th Party congress was on the progress that had been made,and was still needed,to reach the flrst centenary goal of buildingxiaokang,or a moderately prosperous society in all respects,which the nation has since achieved.

The focus of this year’s congress has been the vision and strategies to advance toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist nation in all respects.I have no doubt,based on my experience of traveling throughout the country over the past 16 years,the country will achieve this on time.

I recently realized that my daughter will be my exact age of 39 when China accomplishes this second goal.And that reminds me that the mission of the Communist Party of China isn’t only to have improved the lives of poor farmers of the last century or of all people of this century but also for the children of tomorrow.And that extends not only to the entire country but also to the world.

The just-concluded event has outlined not only the big picture concepts of modernization and rejuvenation but also spelled out exactly how the Party will lead the country to achieve these.For instance,it explained how scientiflc and technological innovation will propel continued growth and development that can help ensure China will not fall into any kind of “middle-income country trap”.

Befltting of this emphasis on technological advancement,I was delighted to cohost China Daily’s flrst video using XR technology for the congress as a project for our media group’s Edgar Snow Newsroom,of which I am proud to be a core member.The Newsroom,which China Daily founded in June 2021,seeks to enable leading international journalists and experts to tell the true story of China’s realities to the world,especially based on their actual flrsthand experiences in the fleld.It has truly been an honor to work alongside such outstanding international talent to tell the real stories of the country and their global impacts.

Indeed,as a member of the Edgar Snow Newsroom,I don’t consider telling China’s story well to be a job or even a career but a life mission - one that has led me to travel to the last village in China to connect to the road system in Sichuan,the vast deserts of Xinjiang and the narrow back alleys of Fuzhou.

My years in China have proved to me that China is a place where you should expect the unexpected and where you should never say,“never,ever”.There are many things I never,ever imagined before coming to China 16 years ago from the United States.But China is a place where never,ever can come true.

Never,ever did I imagine that I’d journey through quake zones,spend birthdays at a mass grave,bring electricity to schools on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or that I’d end up buying,riding,milking and getting kicked by yaks.

Never,ever did I imagine I would become the youngest-ever winner of the Chinese Government Friendship Award,the highest honor the country bestows on foreign experts for their contributions to the country’s social and economic development.

Never,ever did I imagine the China Daily videos I created would receive hundreds of millions of views.

And never,ever did I imagine that my book,Closer to Heaven:A Global Nomad’s Journey Through China’s Poverty Alleviation,would become a bestseller featured in hundreds of videos and stories by top national media and even at one point trending in the No 2 spot on Weibo.

It’s not your typical China book.I discover unexpected dimensions of China’s development while visiting ostrich rodeos,leprosy villages and virtual-reality parks run by farmers.

I explore the reform and opening-up that has propelled the development driving China’s poverty-alleviation miracle in often-unexpected ways.

I join the “bangbangarmy”,and steer a gut-drone camera with a joystick while traveling along the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

These journeys have been adventures.They’ve brought me from the darkness of the quake zone toward the light,from the US to the “Roof of the World” and closer to heaven.

And they’re a flrsthand exploration of how China,in turn,has lifted so many people out of the hell of poverty and closer to heaven,as it exists on Earth.

I’m delighted the flrst editions in Chinese and English sold out quickly,and China Intercontinental Press has reprinted it with new content not only under the label Marco Polo of the New Era but also as an Edgar Snow Newsroom book.

As I chronicle inCloser to Heaven,I have spent the past 16 years traveling to often remote and isolated communities in every province on the Chinese mainland,telling the story of-and contributing to-China’s poverty alleviation miracle.That is,while discovering the country’s deserts,mountains,forests and tundra on the backs of ostriches,horses,camels and yaks.

This led me to found the volunteer initiative in Yushu’s Qumarleb county 11 years ago,starting by donating solar panels to schools without electricity,followed by computers,libraries,food,clothes,coal,medicine,classroom equipment,3G Wifl and even yaks.As the government has resolved such material “hardware” issues,our group has shifted focus to providing full university scholarships for herders’ children,and surgeries,wheelchairs,prosthetics and therapies for nomadic children with disabilities.

Again,I would have never,ever imagined China could overcome such incredible geological difflculties to achieve this in Qumarleb and throughout the country.Yet,it has - as I’ve not only seen but also experienced flrsthand,from the fleld.

China’s poverty alleviation miracle isn’t just the story of the year.It’s the story of the decade.It’s the story of the century.And it isn’t just a Chinese story but a human story.

It has been incredible to witness this,to tell this story and an honor to make my own small contributions to it - something I previously never,expected.Again,it shows that China truly is a place where “never,ever” can come true.

But the elimination of extreme poverty was just one pillar of the flrst of China’s centenary goals.

Especially since the 20th Party congress,I look forward to continuing to tell the story of and contribute to China’s progress in the years and decades to come.

In addition to writings,videos and speeches,I am planning several more books and am especially excited about focusing on common prosperity,as this not only ensures the previously intractably poor don’t end up taking steps back into extreme poverty but also is the next step forward.Common prosperity is analogous to the second centenary goal as to what the elimination of extreme poverty was to the flrst.It is not the whole picture but a necessary cornerstone that props up its overall structure.And it is a major pillar of modernization,as China continues to go beyond simply meeting people’s material needs to enabling them to lead happy lives and pursue their dreams.

Now,I’m not Chinese.But I realize from firsthand experience,that the Chinese dream,individual and shared,belongs to all the people of the world we all share.That is,it belongs to all of us.

As such,another focus of my work going forward,especially after the 20th congress,will be to help the world understand how China’s modernization can contribute to a better world for everywhere,whoever you are,wherever you are.That is,ultimately,for a shared future for mankind.