KANG Yuchun's letter to International PEN Friends

Beijing , China

September 26, 2004

Dear friends at International PEN and various PEN centers, it is such an honor for me to be inducted into the PEN family as an honorary member. It is not only an honor, but also an encouragement for me to continue my learning, thinking and writing. It also gives me a great opportunity to get to know many PEN friends whose encouragement to one another is the best present one can get in the whole world. As the Chinese saying goes, “One may have the fulfillment as long as he has a friend who can understand him”. As a member of the International PEN family, I will get to know so many friends who understand one another which will make my life more meaningful.

I am very grateful to all friends at International PEN for your concerns, support and appeals on my behalf. Without PEN's efforts, I cannot imagine that I would hold on my life together during the difficult times to be reunited with my family, not to mention to once again walk in the street in Beijing and to breathe the free air in the city. Although I could not hear your voices when I was in jail, your support and efforts must have become a miraculous power that have been injected into my blood and soul as the energy for my life to continue and even as a part of my spirit and vitality during my imprisonment. Without your support and appeal, I would not be here today. In the same sense, without the cares, supports and efforts from you and all others who endlessly work on bringing justice to everyone, our globe village would not be as beautiful as it is. For some reason, I am afraid that I might not be able realize my wish to meet you soon so I can express my heartfelt appreciations and breathe the same fresh air under the same blue sky with you. However, I believe that such a day will come, and I am looking forward to such a day.

I wish all of you good health and success, and I wish peace and harmony in our global village.

Thanks again.

Sincerely yours,

KANG Yuchun