Harmony among All Nations
This notion is originally used to describe Yao, a legendary leader-chief of allied tribes referenced in ancient China in the Book of History. By promoting virtues and morality, Yao facilitated amicable relations within his tribe as well as between different tribes and achieved social harmony and coordinated relations between different states and thus harmonious coexistence.
Harmony among all nations is not only a basic goal guiding the diplomatic relations of ancient China, but a philosophy consistently promoted in the Chinese culture. In contemporary China, it is manifested in foreign policy of advocating mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among all nations for common development. In recent years, it has been cited several times by Chinese leaders as their position on international relations, demonstrating the contemporary relevance of this ancient wisdom, especially in terms of developing a new type of international relations.
協(xié)和萬邦
協(xié)和萬邦出自《尚書·堯典》對中國上古時期部落聯(lián)盟首領(lǐng)堯(前30世紀—前21世紀之間)的一段描述,大意為堯能夠弘揚品德,讓氏族內(nèi)部親善和睦;繼而處理各個氏族的事務(wù),實現(xiàn)社會和睦;再協(xié)調(diào)各個邦國的關(guān)系,進而實現(xiàn)邦國之間和諧相處。
協(xié)和萬邦是中國古代處理邦國之間關(guān)系的基本原則,也是中華文明一貫的處世之道。在當代社會,這一理念被運用于協(xié)調(diào)不同國家之間的關(guān)系,倡導(dǎo)世界各國相互尊重、和睦共處,實現(xiàn)共同發(fā)展。近年來,中國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人多次提到協(xié)和萬邦的國際觀,倡導(dǎo)構(gòu)建新型國際關(guān)系,體現(xiàn)了這一傳統(tǒng)智慧的時代價值。