Chapter 20 Calling far away is repairing near, shutting down misfortune is eliminating grievances

Law and heaven are in harmony with virtue, like law has no relatives, participates in the sun and moon, and assists in the four seasons.Pleasure is giving, there are crowds abolishing selfishness, calling far away is cultivating near, shutting down misfortune is eliminating grievances.Slender cares about Ren Xian, Gao An cares about Tongli. —— "Guanzi Edition Method" (excerpt) On the morning of March 16, 2007, the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress held a press conference in the Great Hall of the People.At the reception, a reporter from Japan's NHK television station asked Premier Wen Jiabao questions about the prospect of Sino-Japanese relations.Premier Wen replied: "China and Japan are neighbors separated by a strip of water. There is an old saying in China: 'Calling the distance is repairing the nearness, and closing the disaster is eliminating the grievances.' This is what Guan Zi said. With the joint efforts of the Chinese and Japanese governments, We reached a consensus on removing political obstacles affecting the relationship between the two countries, which led to Prime Minister Abe’s visit to China in October last year. The development of cooperative relations between China and Japan and the friendship from generation to generation are in line with the historical trend and the wishes of the people. The Prime Minister pointed out: Although there are still many problems between the two countries, the three political documents have summed up the past of the relationship between the two countries politically, legally and in fact, and have also planned the future of the relationship between the two countries in the long run and strategically. .Finally, Premier Wen further expressed hope that China and Japan will adhere to the spirit of the three documents, learn from history, and face the future.

"Calling far away is repairing near, shutting down calamities is eliminating grievances" comes from "Guanzi Banfa". The meaning of "version law" is to select the policy outline and record it in the edition book, which is regarded as a common law for future generations.The excerpt at the beginning of the article means: as a ruler, one should follow the example of heaven and earth, be kind to all things, and be fair and selfless to all beings.Shi Zhengmin must be as bright and selfless as the sun, the moon, and the four seasons.If you want to make the people happy, you must help the poor. If you want to win the support of the people, you must abolish selfishness. If you want to attract people from afar, you must cultivate the state.To prepare for a long-term plan lies in the appointment of wise men; to consolidate the respected position lies in sharing the benefits with the people.

The so-called "calling far is repairing near", near refers to domestic.It means that if you want to recruit people from afar, you must first clean up the country.How to manage it? "Guanzi Herdsmen" mentioned: "Any herdsman who has land should stay in the granary at four o'clock. If the country has a lot of wealth, those who are far away will come, and if the land is allocated, the people will stay. Honor and disgrace." If the warehouses in the country are full, the people are rich and happy, and the etiquette and righteousness are clear, then the people of distant countries will come to attach themselves.With regard to "closing disasters and eliminating grievances", it does not mean that grievances are eliminated only when there are grievances, but that people's grievances should be kept as low as possible in the place where they are located. "Zhou Yi Ji Ji" says, "A gentleman thinks about troubles and prevents them"; "Huang Di Nei Jing" also talks about "the sage does not cure the disease before it is cured, and if he does not cure the disorder, he treats it before it is chaotic", which is what he means.Disasters and disturbances are generally caused by the people's grievances. Therefore, the management of the people must be based on principles and lead by example. The rewards are reasonable and the punishments are moderate. In this way, the unsafe factors will be reduced, the people will live and work in peace and contentment, and the government will be smooth and harmonious. In eliminating grievances".

Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his views on Sino-Japanese relations by using the phrase "Calling far away is repairing near, closing disasters is eliminating grievances". To avoid old grievances and disputes, first of all, each country should correct its posture and try to eliminate political obstacles that affect the relationship between the two countries. On this point, the governments of China and Japan have made great efforts and reached a lot of consensus.On the other hand, it also expresses to the Japanese government that China and Japan are separated by a narrow strip of water, and hopes that the Japanese government will cherish the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples, face up to and rationally deal with the problems left over from the history of China and Japan, use history as a mirror, face the future, and strive to improve Sino-Japanese relations , so that the friendship between the two peoples will continue from generation to generation.