Source: China.org.cn

04-24-2008 10:42

Special Report: Say no to violent disruption, Show respect to Olympic flame

Thousands of Chinese students and expatriates demonstrated on April 19 in Paris' Place de la Republique, to support the upcoming Beijing Olympics and denounce sections of the French media for their distorted reports on the March 14 Lhasa riots.

Li Huan, a Chinese student, delivered a long and powerful  speech in fluent French at Paris rally.

Li Huan, a Chinese student, delivered a long and powerful speech in fluent French at the rally. The speech, delivered in mellow and passionate tones, combined philosophical wisdom with logical thinking, and was cheered long and loud by the Chinese students and expatriates.

It also amazed and won the admiration of the French people. The speaker, from Xi'an, capital of China's Shaanxi Province, is a post-graduate student in the University of Lille II. He had previously hotly debated Chinese issues with a French reporter on local TV. Li's fluent French and profound knowledge won him respect and restored the dignity of the Chinese people. His speech has had a sensational effect among Chinese students in France.

Li Huan became an instant star after making the speech with many Chinese and French people rushing to take his picture.

The speech was written in French by Li Huan himself. Li said he had recently spent most of his spare time reading material related to Tibet and had become something of an expert in the field. He said he was motivated by love of China and unwillingness to see his motherland misrepresented.

Full text:

Ladies and Gentlemen, French and Chinese friends,

Greetings,

I would like first of all to thank the people of Paris and the prefecture of Paris, for having provided the opportunity to hold this meeting and for making this space available. This is a very special occasion, one of the largest assemblies of Chinese people ever to take place in France, indeed in Europe.

I would like to say a few words on behalf of the students who have traveled hundreds of kilometers by bus, train or car to be here. And I would like to pass on the greeting of many others who although they could not be here today, share our attachment to China, to France, to the French people, and to Franco-Chinese friendship.