To be benevolent and friendly towards neighboring countries was first mentioned in Zuo’s Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. The ancient Chinese used this notion as an important guiding principle in handling relations with neighboring countries: Countries should respect and be friendly to each other, and jointly foster a benign and stable environment. This is in the fundamental interests of all countries and their people. In terms of relations among countries, the pursuit of benevolence and good-neighborliness emphasizes friendship and peace between countries and is similar to the idea that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. This concept also emphasizes moral values as a basis of good-neighborly relations, that is to say, both sides should be guided by moral values in handling their relations. The concept, as applied to international relations, is one of both principle and pragmatism. It embodies the Chinese nation’s pursuit of harmonious relations with other nations based on moral values.