Being benevolent and friendly toward neighboring states

This term comes from Zuo's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. It is a principle for handling relations among individuals and between states. Benevolence is the basis for good neighborliness, and both sides should pursue benevolence. As applied to the relations with other states, it cherishes both principle and pragmatism, and reflects the Chinese nation's pursuit of harmonious relations with other nations based on amity.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in May 2019, Xi Jinping said: For the Chinese civilization, pursuing amity, good neighborliness and harmony is the principle guiding our interactions with other countries. 

China has followed the principles of friendship, good faith, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy, and forged friendships and partnerships with its neighbors to build a community of shared future. This is a true reflection of the ancient philosophy of building friendship with neighbors.

親仁善鄰

“親仁善鄰”出自《左傳》，意為與仁德親近，與鄰邦友好，是個人和國家都應該堅持的原則。這一理念強調“親仁”是建立“善鄰”關系的基礎，即雙方都應當共同遵循仁德，體現了原則性和務實性相統一的國際關系理念，展現了中華民族崇尚“仁”與“協和萬邦”的基本精神。

2019年5月，習近平在亞洲文明對話大會開幕式上指出，親仁善鄰、協和萬邦是中華文明一貫的處世之道。中國秉持親誠惠容理念和與鄰為善、以鄰為伴的周邊外交方針，深化同周邊國家關系，打造周邊命運共同體，充分體現了這一傳統智慧。