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."

投桃報李

“投桃報李”源自《詩經》，意為你贈給我木桃，我回贈給你木李，泛指互贈禮品、禮尚往來，即用禮物為載體，傳達對方的善意，表達與對方永結友好的誠意，隱喻平等互惠的關系原則。

2020年3月，習近平在同沙特國王薩勒曼通電話時表示，中國發生新冠肺炎疫情后，你第一時間向我表達慰問和支持，沙特政府和各界紛紛伸出援手，向中方提供了多批物資援助，中方銘記在心。中華民族是懂得感恩、投桃報李的民族。實際上，中國始終在力所能及范圍內為國際社會抗疫提供支持，共同維護全球公共衛生安全，正是這一理念的有力印證。