“THIS document is powerful and leaves me feeling strong and determined,” Russian translator Olga Migunova said, speaking of the report delivered by Xi Jinping at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last Wednesday.

Migunova was one of the nine foreign linguists commissioned to translate and edit the report. This was the first time since the reform and opening up that anyone except for Chinese interpreters has worked on such documents.

Mustafa Mohamed Ahmed Yahia, 60, from South Sudan, translated the Arabic version of the report. “Directly involving foreigners in the translation shows the CPC’s confidence, openness and transparency,” Yahia told Xinhua.

Holly Snape, a translator from the United Kingdom, noted that the collaboration demonstrates that the CPC and China are “really trying hard to communicate with the rest of the world.”

The document, the most important Chinese policy statement released in five years, has been translated into 10 foreign languages.

Very powerful, very strong

The nine editors were some of the select few who saw the report before it was delivered by Xi. They had 10 days to polish and edit the foreign language versions before its official delivery.

“Upon first seeing the report, I couldn’t take my eyes off it,” Migunova said. “It held me spellbound like a compelling novel. I was totally immersed in it, not having lunch or dinner from 8 in the morning to nearly midnight.”

Learning Chinese for more than 10 years, Migunova has been involved in translating many government reports and CPC documents. “I feel as if all I had done over the past decades was just preparation for translating this report, and I often feel my Russian is not sufficient.”

Snape, who is in her 30s, described the report as “very powerful and very strong.”

“Even for a non-Chinese native speaker, I can feel the determination behind the report and how big the ideas are,” she said.

Snape found it very difficult to convey some Chinese ideas in English, “consultative democracy” being just one example. In many parts of the original, there was tempo and rhythm and emotion, she said, with many nuances difficult to convey in English.

The 32,000-character report charts a new course for the world’s second-largest economy. Josep-Oriol Fortuny Carreras said it struck a skillful balance between big ideas and concrete details.

From the report, the Spanish linguist saw the “determination” and “courage” of the CPC to deal with issues such as corruption and environmental problems.

Peggy Cantave Fuyet, responsible for the French version of the report, said it was “filled with vigor” and aptly portrayed the CPC as a party moving forward.

A historic concept

For almost every foreign translator, the most impressive idea contained in the report is “socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era.”

Migunova called it a “historic theory,” adding that the CPC’s vision and action plans for innovation, anti-corruption, poverty relief and education were promising.

Calling “socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era” a “hugely innovative idea,” Snape said its effects would last for many years to come, both in China and worldwide.

Fontana Rafael, a Brazilian linguist responsible for the Portuguese version, said the CPC’s citizen-centered political philosophy impressed him the most. “The report clearly shows how the Party is always putting the people first.”

Yahia of South Sudan, who read “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” before translating the report, said the ideas of a “new era” and “a community with a shared future for mankind” were most notable to him.

German Konrad Hartmut Luening said the Chinese dream and steps towards reaching the goal excited him. “Looking to the future, I believe China will achieve the desired objective.”

What struck Cantave Fuyet of France was the two-stage development plan Xi unveiled to make China a “great modern socialist country” by the middle of the 21st century.

“By then I might be too old to see it myself. I hope my daughter, who will be in her 40s, will witness the realization of the Chinese dream for me,” she said, calling the plan an inspiration for the world.

The CPC, as a long-term ruling party, possesses the vision and capabilities to implement long-term policies unlike many other parties, said Cantave Fuyet, who holds a doctorate in the sinicization of Marxism from Renmin University of China.

Shuichi Iwasaki was proud of being the first Japanese person to read the report. A marathon runner who finished this year’s Beijing marathon in three hours and 20 minutes, Iwasaki said the biggest change he had seen in the past one or two years in China has been the improving air quality, which proves China and the CPC are reliable to meet goals in accordance with plans.

Visionary Party, great leader

As socialism with Chinese characteristics enters its new era, China presents new options for countries who want to speed up development while preserving their independence, said Yahia.

Keovichith Lamngeun said he would share what he learned from the report with his people and link it with Laos’ national context.

He expected the CPC to be the “great iron wall of international communism and socialism” so that “no forces could discredit or undermine communism and socialism.” From this report, he can see the CPC will remain strong for many years to come.

For Iwasaki, the report came at a critical point, as this year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations. “I think it contains a lot that Japan can learn from,” Iwasaki said.

The Japanese translator described Xi as a “very capable” leader with vision and broad, deep knowledge.

Other translators did not hesitate to describe Xi as a great leader. Yahia said Xi possesses strong leadership, global perspectives and a clear path into the future.

“I respect Xi Jinping and hold him in great esteem. We can see the leader of China has the qualities called for in new times,” said Migunova.

Carreras described Xi as an “unprecedented” leader who heads a very strong and stable party. (Xinhua)