初夏的北欧，白昼渐长。洛神湖畔的风，还带着一点寒意。
原本，这是一个值得举杯庆祝的日子。
5月18日，《北欧时报》走到了第518期，天作之合。十八年风雪兼程，从2008年冬夜里的一个念头，到今天跨越北欧、连接中国与世界的华文媒体平台，这一路并不容易。原本，我们准备了蛋糕，准备了鲜花，也准备与朋友们一起，为“518”——“我要奋发”——这个带着中国人吉祥寓意的数字，轻轻干一杯。
然而，就在这一天，中国柳州发生5.2-5.4级地震的消息突然传来。
一瞬间，地动山摇，巨石崩裂，所有庆祝活动按下暂停键，点烛为祖国祈祷平安。
窗外北欧的阳光依旧明亮，可遥远东方的大地，山动地摇。我们的心随着大地屏住气力，力拔山兮气盖世的感觉，很是难受。仿佛天地之间，有某种看不见的气脉，在同一天里彼此呼应。
有人说，南方巨龙在怒号中，沿着平陆运河即将出海，此时山洪也在暴发。
而就在此时，我收到了中国著名作家贾平凹发来的视频。短短几句话，却重若千钧：祝贺北欧时报创办518期，这确实是一份了不起的报纸，你们站在北欧看中国，而我们通过北欧时报看世界，衷心祝贺北欧时报越办越好，影响力越来越大。”
贾平凹老师发来的这段话，很轻，却很重。短短一句，像一位经历时代风雨的老文人，在大地震动、人心浮躁之际，对远方仍在执笔的人，投来的一束沉静目光。尤其是在柳州地震发生的这一天，再读这段话，心中更觉定海神针，风住了，地也静了。
天地怒吼，山河有声。“天地不仁，以万物为刍狗。”可越是在这样的时刻，人们越会发现：真正愿意为文化、为良知、为人间烟火而发声的人，已经越来越少。
许多文人沉默了。而贾老师，却在这个时候提笔了。这或许不是慷慨激昂的呐喊，却是一种更深沉的担当。因为真正的文人，从来不是只在盛世里歌唱。他们会在风雨欲来时，默默守住文字；会在天地摇晃时，仍然相信文化能够照亮人心。
而《北欧时报》十八年来所坚持的，也正是这样一种无悔而永不熄灭的火光。站在北欧，看中国；透过北欧，看世界。或许，这正是一份海外华文媒体最深的意义。
中国作协副主席白庚胜发来贺信中说：“报纸也是命。人在异乡，能把一份中文报纸做成518期，不容易。纸上有山河，有故乡，也有时代。愿《北欧时报》继续写下去，像爱情河一样，不急，却一直向前。”
广西文联主席、作协主席东西也发来贺词：“在北欧讲述中国，让中国了解北欧。”
……
收到大作家一份份518激励的话语，那一刻，我忽然沉默了很久。
因为我知道，这或许并不仅仅是一份普通的祝福。这是一位经历时代风雨的大文豪，在喧嚣与非议之后，依然选择向文化、向远方、向民间交流投来的目光。
这份信任，很重。
而与此同时，来自世界各地的问候，也一封封抵达北欧。
香港《大公文汇报》李大宏社长发来贺信，希望《北欧时报》继续“以世界眼光观察中国，以中国情怀拥抱世界”；上海《新民晚报》总编辑杜昊写下八字箴言：“山海相隔，文脉相连”；
法国美术家之家协会主席、著名画家雷米更以一种近乎骑士般的浪漫笔调写道：
“在这个喧嚣而浮躁的时代，真正敢于为正义、文明与人类精神而执笔的人，已经越来越少。”他说，《北欧时报》像“一位仍佩戴长剑与玫瑰的欧洲骑士，在北方寒夜中高举文化与良知的火炬”。
读到这里，我久久没有说话。
北欧的湖水很静。可这一夜，心里却像有潮水翻涌。
忽然想起这些年的一路奔波——从北欧雪夜，到秦岭深处；从华文媒体，到科技创新；从文化交流，到人工智能；从中国乡土，到欧洲文明。
有时候，真的会怀疑：我们到底是在办一份报纸，还是在守护一种越来越稀缺的东西？
而5月18日这一天，我们被东方5.2级地震震醒了，似乎给了答案。
报纸，不只是纸。媒体，也不仅是流量。它更像黑夜中的火种。有人守着，它就不会灭。
尤其对于漂泊海外的人来说，一份中文报纸，有时就是故乡本身。
它让乡音穿越冰雪；让文化照亮远方；让人在异国深夜里，还记得自己从哪里来。
此刻，再看桌上的蛋糕，再看窗外初夏的北欧阳光，我忽然觉得：518，注定是一个不平凡的日子。
它既有欢庆，也有震动；既有命运的巧合，也有时代的回响。而我们能做的，也许只有继续前行。
继续在北欧讲述中国；继续让中国了解北欧；继续在风雪中播种文明；继续为那些仍相信文化、相信交流、相信人类善意的人，守住一盏灯。
感谢所有发来贺信的朋友。感谢文化界、艺术界、科技界、侨界与媒体同行。感谢每一位读者。
因为我们知道——
真正支撑《北欧时报》走到518期的，从来不只是时间。而是这个时代里，仍有人愿意相信：文字有温度，文化有力量，文明终会穿越风暴。
洛神湖的风，还在吹。北欧的夏夜，正在慢慢亮起来。
而远方东方的海面上，巨龙在闪电中已经抬头，翻腾入海。
On this early summer day in the Nordic North,the sunlight lingers longer over the lakes of Stockholm.A cool wind still moves gently across the shores of Luoshen Lake.
It was meant to be a day of celebration.
Nordic Chinese Times reached its 518th issue.Eighteen years of snow,wind,and perseverance—from a simple idea born in the winter of 2008 to a Chinese-language media platform connecting the Nordic world with China and beyond.
We had prepared cakes,flowers,and quiet toasts among friends.In Chinese culture,“518”sounds like“I will prosper”—a number carrying hope and blessing.
And yet,on this very day,news suddenly arrived of the earthquake in Liuzhou.
All celebrations stopped.
Outside,the Nordic sky remained bright and calm.But far away in the East,the earth was trembling.
At that moment,it felt as if invisible currents between heaven and earth were responding to one another across continents.
Some said:“The Southern Dragon is roaring before it sails into the sea.”
And then,another message arrived.
A handwritten congratulatory note from the renowned Chinese writer.
Only a few lines:
“Telling the story of China in the Nordic world,helping China understand the Nordic countries.”
I remained silent for a long time after reading it.
Because I understood this was not merely a greeting.It was the gaze of a great writer—someone who has weathered storms of criticism and noise—still choosing to place his faith in culture,dialogue,and the quiet power of human connection.
What moved me even more was this:this was among Jia Pingwa’s first public messages after recent waves of online controversy.
That trust carries weight.
And from across the world,more letters continued to arrive.
The sent blessings encouragingNordic Chinese Timesto“observe China with a global vision and embrace the world with Chinese sentiment.”
Shanghai’s wrote:
“Mountains and seas may separate us,yet our cultural roots remain connected.”
Meanwhile,the President of the French Artists Association,renowned painter,wrote with almost knightly romanticism:
“In this noisy and restless age,those still willing to write for justice,civilization,and the human spirit are becoming increasingly rare.”
He describedNordic Chinese Timesas:
“A European knight still carrying a sword and a rose,raising the torch of culture and conscience in the cold northern night.”
Reading those words,I sat quietly beside the lake for a long while.
The Nordic waters were calm.But within,tides were rising.
I thought about the long road behind us—
From Nordic snowstorms to the mountains of Dabieshan;from Chinese-language journalism to science and innovation;from cultural exchange to organoids and artificial intelligence;from Chinese villages to European civilization.
Sometimes I wonder:
Am I merely publishing a newspaper?Or trying to protect something increasingly rare in this world?
Perhaps May18gave me the answer.
A newspaper is not merely paper.Media is not merely traffic and headlines.
It is a fire kept alive in the darkness.As long as someone guards it,it will not disappear.
Especially for overseas Chinese communities,a Chinese newspaper is sometimes another name for home itself.
It allows familiar voices to travel through snow and ice;allows culture to illuminate distant horizons;allows people,even in a foreign midnight,to remember where they came from.
Now,looking again at the untouched cake,and at the northern sunlight pouring through the window,I suddenly realized:
May18was destined to be no ordinary day.
It carried celebration and sorrow together;coincidence and destiny together;the trembling of the earth and the echo of history together.
And perhaps all we can do is continue forward.
To continue telling China’s story in the Nordic world.To continue helping China understand the North.To continue sowing seeds of civilization through wind and snow.To continue guarding a small light for those who still believe in culture,dialogue,and human goodwill.
Thank you to every friend who sent greetings.Thank you to writers,artists,scientists,entrepreneurs,diplomats,media colleagues,and readers.
Because we now understand:
What carried Nordic Chinese Times to its 518th issue was never merely time itself.
It was the enduring belief that:
Words still carry warmth.Culture still carries strength.And civilization,in the end,will outlive the storm.
The wind over Luoshen Lake is still blowing.The Nordic summer night is slowly turning bright.
And somewhere beyond the eastern horizon,the dragon has already lifted its head.
