Reading China through Xi's classic quotes: 孤举者难起，众行者易趋

"Alone, one falters under the weight; Together, we stride on the road." This saying was quoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his recent speech at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, held in Gyeongju, South Korea, in early November. 

As early as 2015, Xi used the quote in his remarks on the world economy at the 10th G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. "Under the current circumstances, we must answer two questions. The first is how to make an accurate assessment of the health of world economy. The second is what are the right prescriptions for boosting global growth and employment," Xi said. Making a precise and insightful assessment of the global economic situation, Xi raised four proposals, one of which was strengthening macroeconomic policy communication and coordination, and forming synergy between the policies and actions of various countries. Elaborating on this point, Xi quoted the ancient saying, "Alone, one falters under the weight; Together, we stride on the road."

Amid escalating global uncertainties fueled by rising unilateralism, protectionism and geopolitical tensions, we must address both the symptoms and the root causes of sluggish global economic growth: ensuring immediate stable growth, while fostering long-term momentum. Countries around the world must adopt measures and manage their own affairs effectively. More importantly, they should engage in sincere cooperation to jointly meet challenges. History has repeatedly demonstrated that in the age of economic globalization, no country can stand alone, and coordinated cooperation is the inevitable choice.

Origins of the classic quote

"Alone, one falters under the weight; Together, we stride on the road." This saying originates from "Mo Gu," (默觚) a work by Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan (魏源) was a great thinker and philosopher in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). He was regarded as one of the first Chinese intellectuals to open his mind to the outside world and start to discuss the growing gap between China and the West. 

"Alone, one falters under the weight; Together, we stride on the road," emphasizes the importance of unity and cooperation through both a negative and a positive contrast. The sentence is followed by the line "A leaning house cannot be held up by a single beam; a breached river cannot be blocked by a handful of earth," which illustrates that in order to rescue a situation from crisis, individual efforts alone are far from sufficient; collective wisdom and concerted efforts are needed.