Latin Americans often say, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." A person acting alone, unburdened and unencumbered, may move quickly, but it is only by joining forces with others that we can overcome difficulties and travel farther. Thus, looking down on or even rejecting solitary travel has long been a widely endorsed view. But in my opinion, going alone deserves to be just as important as going together.

      "Life is like an inn on a journey, and I am but a traveler." Su Shi's words constantly remind us that life is a journey against the current, and everyone has the right to choose how to spend their brief, traveler-like existence. Some choose to walk with companions, lighting a campfire to warm each other, while others prefer to walk alone, savoring solitude and freedom. This is a personal choice, with no inherent superiority or inferiority.

      Those who walk alone are unencumbered, free and nimble in their actions. They can focus on their own goals and thoughts, rarely disturbed by others, and without constraints, they can run without hesitation. As Wang Yangming said, "The mind is principle; knowledge and action are one." Solitary travelers can better understand and realize their ideals.

      Our historical criticism of solitary travel stems precisely from the lack of restraint, which leads to the one and most fundamental requirement for the solitary traveler: self-discipline. By examining oneself, knowing oneself, one can cultivate virtue through self-discipline. The freedom that solitary travelers cherish should be built on the foundation of self-discipline. Self-discipline means remaining cautious and conscientious, adhering to one's inner moral principles. The Book of Rites states, "Nothing is more visible than what is hidden, nothing more manifest than what is subtle; therefore the superior man is watchful over himself when alone." That is, even in private, in unobserved places, and in subtle matters, one must maintain reverence in the heart, restraint in speech, and moderation in action, while also being self-respecting, self-reflective, and self-alert. Only then is it true solitary travel, and only then can one attain the realm of Wang Wei's "What does it matter to be alone?"—one of the reasons he was called the Buddha of Poetry. Otherwise, one cannot be considered a solitary traveler. What walks alone is thought, character, and behavior, as well as an independence unaffected by the evil thoughts of others. This is courage and resilience; hence, one who practices self-discipline in solitude is naturally not alone.

      Self-discipline perfectly explains why solitary travel is as important as traveling together, but how important is traveling together, really? The ancients said, "Those who share a school are friends; those who share a goal are comrades." No matter how great a country's capability or how strong its power, only by walking hand in hand with other countries can it go farther and last longer. Chile is one of the most developed, open, and stable countries in Latin America, ranking first in the region in comprehensive competitiveness, economic liberalization, and market openness. This is precisely because they understand the principle of "going far together." The Chinese realized the importance of collective travel even earlier than Chileans, dating back to the pre-Qin period. For example, Confucius said, "When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher." Those who travel together can learn from and emulate one another, continuously improving their abilities and qualities. This is why the reform and opening-up policy was implemented in the 1980s, connecting China with the world, because no one wanted to repeat the Qing Dynasty's policy of closing the country to international intercourse, which ultimately led to being blown open by cannons and a century of humiliation. The Chinese people do not want to be humiliated, nor can they afford to be; this is also why the opening-up has been intensified. This is the role of the Belt and Road Initiative, and even more so, the role of a community with a shared future for mankind.

      I believe that in the new era, solitary travel and collective travel should be combined; this is the true meaning of "self-discipline in solitude, strength in unity." No matter how outstanding one's talent and wisdom, one cannot withstand the combined force of many, ultimately ending like Xiang Yu, who took his own life at the Wujiang River. And no matter how open a country is to the outside world, without strong comprehensive national power, what reason can it offer to persuade other countries to cooperate with it? Without the Two Bombs and One Satellite, without astonishing economic strength, how many countries would be convinced by the Belt and Road Initiative we propose?

      Self-discipline in solitude, strength in unity—organically combining solitary travel and collective travel is what we must achieve, what China is doing, and what everyone in the world must do.