Seeking common ground while setting aside differences

Seeking common ground while setting aside differences

This idiom comes from The Book of Rites. Dialectically speaking, the differences in all things are relative and interchangeable. The Confucian culture held that in handling the relations between people and between states, one needs to recognize their differences and seek common ground while setting aside differences.

In today's world, we should acknowledge the differences among cultures and values, and seek common ground instead of absolute uniformity, so as to reach the broadest possible consensus. This is the core value prevailing in China's foreign relations.

Xi Jinping has reiterated the importance of "seeking common ground" on more than one occasion. For instance, at the World Economic Forum in January 2022, he said: Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences. We should follow the trend of history, work for a stable international order, advocate common values of humanity, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

求同存异

“求同存异”出自《礼记》，意为找出共同点，保留不同意见。辩证来看，一切事物的差异都是相对的，都存在相互转化的可能。儒家文化强调，在处理人与人、国家与国家的关系时，需要承认彼此间的差异，通过协调达到一种“和而不同”的状态。在当今的世界环境中，承认文化和价值的多元，不追求绝对的一致，努力寻求彼此的共同点，达成双方的最大共识，正是中国对外关系的核心理念。

习近平在多个场合提及“求同存异”理念。2022年1月，他在世界经济论坛演讲中指出，不同国家、不同文明要在彼此尊重中共同发展、在求同存异中合作共赢。他同时强调，我们要顺应历史大势，致力于稳定国际秩序，弘扬全人类共同价值，推动构建人类命运共同体。