Page 8 - ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

our minds, the broader the arena for cooperation. The next five to ten
years will be a crucial period in reform and development for both China
and Germany. As reform deepens, our cooperation will grow into new
areas and gain new impetus. I am confident that as we come together
in cooperation on “Made in Germany” and “Made in China,” what we
produce will not only be excellent quality products, but the happiness
and ambitions of our two peoples. China and Germany are the biggest
economies in Asia and Europe. If we strengthen the integration between
our economies and create strong cooperation as pillars of growth in Asia
and Europe, we can be certain to bring a boon to the world economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
This year marks the centenary of World War I and the 75th anniversary
of World War . Gotthold Ephraim Lessing once said, “History should not
encumber memory. It should enlighten common sense.” Former Chancellor
Willy Brandt is said to have observed, “He who forgets the past will get sick
in his soul.” In China we say that “Matters of the past not forgotten are
teachers of matters of the future.” The Chinese people have, based on what
they have been through, made the conscious decision to commit to a path
of peaceful development. We sincerely hope that all countries will commit to
peaceful development paths and work together to build a harmonious world
of enduring peace and common prosperity.
Thank you.

Note
1
Li He, “Yanmen Taishou Xing.” Li He (790–816) was a Chinese poet of the Tang
Dynasty.
2 The Methods of the Sima (Si Ma Fa), “Benevolence as the Foundation.” This book, also
known as The Marshal’s Art of War, is an ancient Chinese book on warfare. During the Song
Dynasty, it was used as a basic textbook for training in the martial arts.
3 The Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu), “Xue Er.”
4 See note 7, p.91.
5 The Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu), “Yan Yuan.”
6 Laozi, Chapter 61.

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