Bai Yugang, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2021 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and the 7th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in Qufu, East China's Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The opening ceremony for the 2021 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and the 7th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations was held in Qufu, Jining, East China's Shandong province on Sept 27.

A total of 172 scholars and experts from 16 countries like the United States, Germany, Hungary, and Japan attended the ceremony online and offline. Officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, as well as 38 foreign envoys in China were also present.

With a theme of "Dialogue among civilizations and global cooperation", the 7th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations featured a number of activities, including a high-level dialogue, keynote speeches, youth forums, as well as interviews with ministers and diplomats. It also launched the Nishan Forum on Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as the 2021 Confucius Culture Week for Chinese and Foreign Young Students for the first time.

Hundreds of scholars, officials, and foreign envoys attend the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Nishan forum is aimed at promoting excellent traditional Chinese culture and other brilliant cultures across the world, as well as enhancing communications and mutual learning between different civilizations, said Xu Jialu, honorary president of the organizing committee of the forum, at the opening ceremony. He added that the forum has yielded fruitful results and generated massive impacts since its inauguration 11 years ago.

Excellent traditional Chinese culture, which is exemplified by Confucian culture, represents the wisdom and philosophy that Chinese people have been accumulating over the past hundreds of decades, said Hao Mingjin, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, in his speech.

Hao added that several core principles of Confucianism, such as benevolence, people-oriented governance, integrity, and harmony, are still very relevant to modern values like peaceful development, democracy, and fairness. Traditional Chinese culture is one of China's major contributions to the world, as well as the spiritual strength that enhances exchanges between diverse civilizations.

A number of foreign guests, including former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and Japan's former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, sent their congratulations via video link.

The events are being sponsored by multiple government departments and associations, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, as well as the Shandong provincial government.