President Hu Jintao suggested in his September 15 speech at the United Nations General Assembly that a “world of harmony” be brought about by all nations on Earth.
This signifies first of all the importance of the co-existence of diversified civilizations on our planet.
…… The idea of harmony is rooted in traditional Chinese thinking.
The Chinese word “he” has not only the connotations of “harmony” and “unity” but also those of “centripetal” and “coherence.”
For the ancient Chinese, “harmony” was always at the core of dealing with everything from state affairs to neighbourly relations. The concept has always had a profound influence on the country’s relations with the rest of the world.
At the same time, the Chinese have always emphasized the importance of “ruling a country benevolently,” instead of “rule by force.” This is a different expression of “harmony.”
Putting forward the idea of bringing about “a world of harmony” today is also a way of promoting Chinese culture in the modern context.
