The Nishan Forum on Overseas Chinese is held in Qufu of Shandong province on Sept 27. [Photo by Li Mingrui/China News Service]

The Nishan Forum on Overseas Chinese was held during the ninth Nishan World Civilization Forum held in Qufu of Shandong province on Sept 27, serving as a key platform to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning among world civilizations.

About 55 representatives and experts from 20 countries and regions participated in the forum.

"Overseas Chinese are active disseminators of the excellent traditional Chinese culture, inheriting the genes and ideas of Chinese culture," said Qiu Liguo, an official from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, in his speech, adding that overseas Chinese have great potential in inheriting and promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture and promoting the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations.

He also said that it is essential to engage in deep dialogue with proponents of liberalism to further promote Chinese culture, especially Confucianism, on the globe stage.

Xu Hairong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Party Committee, said overseas Chinese are valuable resources and serve as a key bridge for international exchanges.

The world is undergoing unprecedented changes and it is a critical moment for greater understanding and dialogue between Chinese and Western civilizations. 

Mao Zhicheng, president of Yunnan General Chamber of Commerce in UK said culture is the lifeblood and soul of a nation. Chinese culture has nurtured a patriotic sentiment of pursuing unity, a governance concept of "harmonizing all nations" and a values-base system of "harmony in diversity". 

During the forum, overseas Chinese also expressed their aspirations to uphold the tradition of loving their country and hometown, serve as promoters and guardians of national reunification, and contribute to the high-quality development of the country.