Witnessing 40 Years of Friendship Between China and Africa Three Generations’ Friendship with Algeria

By Zhou Zhitao, Zheng Yi, Liu Zhenyu, and Sun Yajun

“My name was given by my grandfather, so I developed a strong relationship with Algeria from birth.” At noon on July 24, our correspondent met Shen Ali outside the operating room of the Anesthesiology Department of the Yingcheng Hospital of TCM in Xiaogan,Hubei Province. The 38-year-old anesthesiologist had just finished his fourth operation of that day,his back soaked with sweat.

Recently, at the promotion event held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presenting Central China’s Hubei Province, the story of Shen Ali’s family was told far and wide, as three generations from his family were involved in providing medical assistance to Algeria, as a demonstration of the friendship between the two countries. One interview reported that Shen Ali’s family,which included his grandpa Shen Dongsheng, his uncle Shen Hongxing, and himself,had been participating in the aid program for nearly 40 years since 1979. In total, they had participated in seven medical aid teams from Hubei. With the three generations’ relay assistance to Africa came warmth and love from an ordinary family.

Pride of the Family

沈冬升在援非路上 Shen Dongsheng on the way to Algeria

In Shen Ali’s mobile phone were kept many photos taken by Shen Dongsheng, his grandfather.Though a little faded and yellowing, we can still see how Shen Dongsheng spent his life in Algeria.

In 1979, Shen Dongsheng,an anesthesiologist at the Anesthesiology Department of Xiaogan Central Hospital,was dispatched by the Hubei Provincial Health Planning Commission to Algeria. Far away

from China and feeling homesick,he sent letters to his family almost every month.

Shen Hongxing, Shen Ali’s uncle, still remembered reading the letter to his mother every time they came. Sometimes, a picture of his father was enclosed,revealing scenes of his father working in hospital, or walking in the local streets and farms.At that time, Shen Hongxing lived with his brothers and mother in Baiyang Village in Yingcheng. Photos were still a rarity in the village, and Africa was neither heard of nor seen by any of the locals. So, when the letters arrived, villagers would all swarm into his house and have a look at them, saying, “Old Shen is brilliant. He wins glory for our country and hometown!” The praises from villagers made his family very proud at that time.

“我的名字是爷爷取的，一出生就注定了我和阿尔及利亚的缘分。”7月24日中午，记者在湖北孝感应城市中医院麻醉科手术室外，见到38岁的麻醉科医生沈阿利时，他刚完成当天的第四台手术，衣服后背已经湿透。

近日，湖北全球推介会上，沈阿利一家三代在阿尔及利亚接力从事医疗援助的事迹，作为中非友谊的见证被推介。记者采访了解到，从1979年爷爷沈冬升参与援非，到二叔沈红星，再到沈阿利，沈阿利一家三代援非跨越近40年，共参加7批（次）湖北援非医疗队工作。三代人接力援非背后，是一个普通家庭的温情与大爱。

非洲寄回照片

在沈阿利的手机里，翻拍有很多爷爷沈冬升留下的照片。泛黄模糊的老照片上，依稀能看清沈冬升在阿尔及利亚工作、生活的场景。

1979年，时任孝感市中心医院麻醉科医生的沈冬升，受湖北省卫计委派遣，远赴北非阿尔及利亚。远离故土，思念家人，他几乎每个月都会往家里邮寄家书。

沈阿利的叔叔沈红星回忆，每次都是他负责把信念给母亲听。有时，信里会夹带一张父亲的照片，有医院工作的场景，也有在当地街头、农场的照片。当时，沈红星兄弟三人和母亲住在应城白杨村老家，村里相片并不多见，非洲的样子大家更是没有见过。村里的乡亲们听说沈冬升从非洲寄信回来了，都会围过来看，称赞道：“老沈真厉害,为国争光了！”

沈红星说，听到乡亲们的赞扬，一家人脸上都浮现自豪的笑容。

1980年，正在阿尔及利亚参加援非医疗队工作的沈冬升，得知孙儿出生，便给他取名“沈阿利”。……