Good timing, geographical convenience, and harmonious human relations

The original expression in The Book of Mencius says, "Opportunity is important, even more so is geographical advantage, but most important of all is popular support." In The Art of War, Sun Bin (dates unknown), a military strategist of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and a descendant of Sun Zi, wrote that in the absence of any of these three essential factors, danger will lurk in a temporary victory. He meant that the outcome of a war hinges on the three factors: timing and climate conditions, advantageous terrain and location, and popular support and numerical superiority.

Traditionally these are regarded as the three essential factors of success or failure of any undertaking. They represent the Chinese people's emphasis on timing, space and human elements, with the greatest emphasis on human influence.

In June 2013, while attending a meeting of Sino-Mexican entrepreneurs, Xi Jinping pointed out that the prospects for bilateral cooperation were excellent, with a favorable domestic and international environment as well as popular support. He expressed the hope that the two countries would join forces, regard each other sources of important opportunities for development and mutual benefit, and build a bright future for bilateral relations.

天時(shí)地利人和

“天時(shí)地利人和”出自《孟子》：“天時(shí)不如地利，地利不如人和?！贝送?，《孫臏兵法》也提到：“天時(shí)、地利、人和，三者不得，雖勝有殃?！边@一觀念強(qiáng)調(diào)作戰(zhàn)時(shí)的自然氣候條件、地理環(huán)境和人心向背等因素均應(yīng)予以深思熟慮。“天時(shí)”本指作戰(zhàn)時(shí)的有利氣候，泛指時(shí)間上的各種有利條件，包括天氣、時(shí)機(jī)、機(jī)遇等；“地利”本指作戰(zhàn)時(shí)的有利地形，泛指空間上的各種有利條件，包括地形、地勢、區(qū)位等；“人和”本指得到人們擁護(hù)，上下同心、團(tuán)結(jié)一致，泛指人的優(yōu)勢。古人認(rèn)為，它們是事關(guān)成敗的三種最重要的因素，其中首要的是“人和”。這一觀念反映了中國人考慮問題的三個(gè)基本向度——時(shí)間（時(shí)機(jī)）、空間（環(huán)境）和人，體現(xiàn)了“以人為本”的基本理念。

2013年6月，習(xí)近平在出席中墨企業(yè)家會議時(shí)指出，中墨經(jīng)貿(mào)合作具有天時(shí)地利人和，發(fā)展前景廣闊。希望兩國各界攜起手來，始終將對方發(fā)展視為自身發(fā)展的重要機(jī)遇，圖發(fā)展、謀共贏，為中墨關(guān)系開創(chuàng)更加美好未來。