All Living Things Can Be Nourished without Injuring One Another, and All Roads Can Run Parallel without Overrunning Each Other

All Living Things Can Be Nourished without Injuring One Another, and All Roads Can Run Parallel without Overrunning Each Other

This sentence from the Confucian classic The Book of Rites means that all things grow and breed in competition, but do not harm each other. The movement of the sun, the moon, and the shift between the four seasons each follow their own rules, so they do not conflict with each other. This understanding, kindled by ancient Chinese people through their observations of the harmonious coexistence of all things in nature, embodies the idea of "harmony without uniformity" and "harmony between humanity and nature." Contrasting the "pluralism" of the West, the philosophy of ancient Chinese people emphasizes interdependence, balance, and coexistence among various parties instead of fighting, conflict, and compromise. In the eyes of the Chinese people, civilization is inclusive. If the spirit of inclusiveness is upheld, the so-called "clash of civilizations" can be avoided, and harmony among civilizations can be achieved. 

Cherishing the idea that "all living things can be nourished without injuring one another, and all roads can run parallel without overrunning each other," China champions harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries to jointly build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, welcoming, and beautiful.

万物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖

“万物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖”，出自儒家经典《礼记·中庸》，意思是：万物竞相生长繁育，但是彼此之间并不妨害；日月运行、四时更替各有各的规律，但相互之间 不冲突。这是中国古人通过对自然万物和谐共生的观察而总结出的规律性认识，体现了“和而不同”“天人合一”的思想。这种思想不同于西方的“多元主义”，它强调多元之间的相互依存、平衡与共生，而非斗争、冲突和妥协。在中国人看来，文明是包容的，只要秉持包容精神，就不存在所谓 “文明冲突”，就可以实现文明和谐。

中国秉持“万物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖”理念，倡导各国和睦相处、合作共赢，共同建设一个持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界。