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.

求同存異

“求同存異”出自《禮記》，意為找出共同點，保留不同意見。辯證來看，一切事物的差異都是相對的，都存在相互轉化的可能。儒家文化強調，在處理人與人、國家與國家的關系時，需要承認彼此間的差異，通過協調達到一種“和而不同”的狀態。在當今的世界環境中，承認文化和價值的多元，不追求絕對的一致，努力尋求彼此的共同點，達成雙方的最大共識，正是中國對外關系的核心理念。

習近平在多個場合提及“求同存異”理念。2022年1月，他在世界經濟論壇演講中指出，不同國家、不同文明要在彼此尊重中共同發展、在求同存異中合作共贏。他同時強調，我們要順應歷史大勢，致力于穩定國際秩序，弘揚全人類共同價值，推動構建人類命運共同體。