Nelson Mandela has been in hospital since June 8, where he is being treated for a recurring lung infection. Today, people from all walks of life in South Africa will gather in front of the hospital to pray for the former president's quick recovery and to celebrate his 95th birthday. Zhang Wan has more.

 

　　A song named Glorious Years was written for former South African president Nelson Mandela by a popular Hong Kong band called Beyond in the 1980s. As one of the band's trademark songs, Glorious Years became popular very quickly after being released among Chinese youth, especially those born in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

　　Many Chinese say it's hard to tell exactly why they like the song so much, however, it always reminds them of the great man in South Africa- Nelson Mandela as well as his inspiring spirit.

 

　　Here is a young Chinese Wang Tonghua, who regards Mandela as an icon.

 

　　"I first heard of the former South African president during my childhood. For me he is the person who has both won the Nobel Peace Price, and been in prison. However, nothing could every change his faith. I admire men like him, who are able to stick to their faith for many, many years. I regard him as the incarnation of peace. He has been fighting for anti-apartheid and improved living conditions in South Africa."

 

　　Mi Wenjuan, another young Chinese person says she regards Mandela as a warrior who had passed on his warrior's spirit not simply to South Africans, but also to people all around the world.

 

　　"What impresses me most about Mandela is his unconquerable warrior's spirit. I am deeply impressed by his words: "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul". He has demonstrated the spirit of a warrior throughout his life that is sticking to one's faith and values."

 

　　Zhang Zhi, the department head of a magazine says he was deeply impressed by Mandela's smile, which seems very infectious.

 

　　"I think the smile on his face comes naturally from his heart. Certainly, from this smile we could also see lots of hardship behind it. During his more than two decades in prison, he experienced all kinds of unfair treatment. It seems that although prison may detain a person's body, it cannot detain one's heart and soul. His smile is the manifestation of the charm of his personality."

 

　　The name Mandela is believed the most well-known South African name in China. He is known to have made a great contribution to the establishment of relations between China and South Africa in 1998, and also one who cherished friendship with China.

 

　　Lu Miaogeng, former deputy director of Chinese research center in South Africa still remembers clearly the situation when he met Mandela on August 1993, at Mandela's office.

 

　　"When Mandela was speaking, he sounded strong and powerful. He said China has been supporting the South African people in their fight against apartheid since the 1950s, you have provided us all the aid that you can. Such friendship between South Africa and China is what we will continue to cherish."

 

　　Many young people in China say they have been greatly influenced by Mandela's personality and spirit. He is more than a politician, he is a great man. Here is Zhang Zhi again.

 

　　"He could always find beauty in a person. That's pretty similar to the thoughts of a poet in Chinese history, saying: there is no one person in the world who is not good. After Mandela became president, many black people urged him to crack down on white people. However, he said: what we have been fighting for is a democratic country, what we have been fighting against is apartheid and racial discrimination, therefore, we could not betray our effort. I think this is a typical example of returning good for evil."

 

　　Zhang says that so far there are hundreds of presidents all over the world, however, he sees few president who can affect the world as deeply as Mandela has.

 

　　For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.