求同存异 | qiú tóng cún yì
Xi Jinping spent last week abroad, crossing off several “firsts” since becoming head of state: his first state visit to Finland, his first in-person meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and his first meeting with Alaska’s Gov. Bill Walker (though not first ever visit to Alaska). In these meetings, Xi reiterated the need for cooperation, mutual respect, and seeking common ground to achieve progress on both sides — a message nicely summed up in the 成语”求同存异”.
MEANING
To seek common ground and put aside differences; to agree to differ
ORIGINAL
习近平主席同外方沟通交流过程中，善于寻找双方利益的汇合点、政策理念的共鸣点、互补合作的契合点，倡导相互尊重、求同存异、互利共赢。习近平主席指出，各国基本国情、历史文化、发展阶段不尽相同，每个国家和人民都有权选择适合自身的社会制度和发展道路。只有符合本国实际，才是正确的发展之路。只有相互尊重包容，才是长久的相处之道。这些表述不仅体现出中国领导人的自信，也蕴含着和而不同的哲理，得到外方领导人的理解和认同。