Nishan Forum highlights cultural diversity, global dialogue
Nishan in Qufu, East China's Shandong province, the birthplace of Confucianism and hometown of Confucius, has turned into a center of cultural exchanges, as global scholars and experts are gathering to discuss various topics related to world civilizations and human progress.
The 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations opened in Qufu on July 9, attracting over 400 experts and scholars from more than 70 countries around the world.
With the tagline "Beauty in Diversity: Nurturing Understanding among Civilizations for Global Modernization", the forum aims to foster global dialogue and deepen mutual understanding among diverse cultures. From the co-development of diverse civilizations to innovation in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), six keynote speeches were delivered during the opening ceremony.
When envisioning the future, one concept stands out: "harmony in diversity". This is the ideal that the great Chinese sage Confucius presented to the world.
"The future is not as a battlefield of civilizations but as a garden of civilizations," said Chhem Kieth Rethy, senior minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in his keynote speech. He also emphasized the timeliness of the forum's theme.
According to Rethy, civilization should not be seen as a "soft" topic, "but as a foundation for resilient and peaceful societies".
Steve Fuller from the Department of Sociology at University of Warwick in the United Kingdom discussed how to protect human creativity in a world of globalized AI.
No human being produces something entirely alone, according to Fuller. This might be ignored while doing research, but AI reminds us of this fact, he added.
Jean Louis Robinson Richard, ambassador of Madagascar to China, praised the forum as a valuable platform for deepening intercultural dialogue. "Through events like the Nishan Forum, China has made great contributions to promoting world peace and fostering harmony among diverse cultures and civilizations," he said.
The forum will run through July 10, with participants engaging in dialogues on topics such as the origins and future development of civilizations, the global significance of Confucian culture, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of human civilization.
In addition, seven parallel forums are being held, focusing on a range of topics including overseas Chinese communities, Confucian dialogue, China-Egypt exchanges on ancient civilizations, world cultural heritage, and traditional Chinese medicine.
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