Nothing, not even mountains and seas, can separate people with common goals and ideals.
This is a sentence in Bao Pu Zi (The Master Who Embraces Simplicity) by Ge Hong (c. 281-341), a minor official, medical scientist and Daoist of the Jin Dynasty (265-420). If two people have similar interests, they will not feel distant from each other though they are separated by high mountains and vast seas. What is more important is that they share the same aspirations and have the same inclinations.
In his keynote speech at the Fifth BRICS Leaders Meeting in March 2013, Xi Jinping said: As an old Chinese saying goes, "Nothing, not even mountains and seas, can separate people with common goals and ideals." The five countries from four continents are gathering here for the great goal of fostering partnership for common development, and the noble cause of promoting democracy in international relations and advancing the peace and development of mankind. To pursue peace, development and mutually beneficial cooperation is our common aspiration and responsibility.
志合者，不以山海为远
“志合者，不以山海为远”，出自《抱朴子》，意为如果两人志趣相同，他们不会因为有山海阻隔而感到彼此距离很远，交往的重点在于志向的相合、志趣的相投，阐发了志同道合的道理。
2013年3月，习近平在金砖国家领导人第五次会晤时的主旨讲话中引用“志合者，不以山海为远”，指出来自世界四大洲的5个国家，为了构筑伙伴关系、实现共同发展的宏伟目标走到了一起，为了推动国际关系民主化、推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业走到了一起。求和平、谋发展、促合作、图共赢，是金砖国家共同的愿望和责任。