Giving a plum in return for a peach
This idiom comes from The Book of Songs. It indicates an exchange of presents to express good faith and friendship. It also refers to equality and reciprocity.
In March 2020, Xi Jinping said on the phone with King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia: Following the coronavirus outbreak in China, you expressed sympathy and support to me at the first opportunity. Your government and your people have offered help and provided material supplies to China on more than one occasion. We will remember this. We Chinese people are a grateful nation and will repay your kindness.
On the part of China, it has done all it can to assist the international community in responding to the pandemic and protecting global public health. This is just another example of acting on the idea of "giving a plum in return for a peach."
投桃报李
“投桃报李”源自《诗经》,意为你赠给我木桃,我回赠给你木李,泛指互赠礼品、礼尚往来,即用礼物为载体,传达对方的善意,表达与对方永结友好的诚意,隐喻平等互惠的关系原则。
2020年3月,习近平在同沙特国王萨勒曼通电话时表示,中国发生新冠肺炎疫情后,你第一时间向我表达慰问和支持,沙特政府和各界纷纷伸出援手,向中方提供了多批物资援助,中方铭记在心。中华民族是懂得感恩、投桃报李的民族。实际上,中国始终在力所能及范围内为国际社会抗疫提供支持,共同维护全球公共卫生安全,正是这一理念的有力印证。