Let the flowers of all nations' dreams bloom

Recently, the 10th China Flower Expo dropped the curtain on Shanghai's Chongming Island. I had the honor to visit the expo, where the good environment and the grand exhibition deeply impressed me. The beautiful flower scene prompted me to ponder upon the theme of the expo-"Blossom with a Chinese Dream".

As a Republic of Korea diplomat in Shanghai, I have long been observing how China achieves its Chinese Dream, and contemplating what its realization would mean for the world.

I think I am not the only person who is concerned with the question; a lot of people around the world also care about the Chinese Dream. However, some of their comments are not very positive. They see the Chinese Dream as a threat or as something that would shake global stability.

But it has dawned on me that we can understand the Chinese Dream better from the perspective of flower blossom.

A flower is more beautiful when it is put in a bundle or it blooms in large numbers in a vast area, which is quite different from the law of the animal world. Animals have a strong sense of territory. After a male lion declares its dominance over an area, it will not allow other male lions to enter the territory.

For a long time, the international community followed the law of the animals. In the past, wars broke out when imperialism and colonialism drove people to fight for their land. Now, wars have just changed to another form－the fight for market dominance is now being conducted under the name of trade protectionism.

It's time for the world to change its mindset from the cruel forest law to the "flower model" as countries have never been so interdependent as they are today. Combating climate change needs efforts from every member of the global village while industrial development needs concerted and stable supply chains. And the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic shows that no country can be safe so long as others are struggling to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

We should learn from the flower blossoms, not from dogfights. Flowers don't fight for sunlight, water or soil; rather they grow and bloom in a manner of peaceful coexistence. They know the strength of unity－blooming together helps pollens spread faster and farther. This is the best representation of the idea of "seeking common ground while shelving differences". In nature, it's all about sharing resources.

I think the rise of China and the realization of the Chinese Dream should follow the flower model, and my humble opinion is not new to the Chinese. I hope that the flowers of the Chinese Dream bloom in the same harmonious and friendly way.

As a Chinese saying goes, "Sharing your happiness is much better than enjoying your happiness alone." The beautiful flower scene should inspire people to appreciate together, and I believe that the fruits of China's development will also be shared by the world.

Chinese people say, "Exert the utmost of human abilities, and then resign the rest to the decree of heaven." In my interpretation, the decree of heaven is the lesson from nature. In the flower expo, I deeply felt that when the flowers of the Chinese Dream bloom, the flowers of other countries' dreams, too, will bloom, and I hope the beautiful flower scene can be shared by the entire community of humankind.

When beauty reflects itself with diversity and integrity, the world will be blessed with harmony and unity.

The author is the Republic of Korea consul general in Shanghai.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.