Welcome to Qufu City, the city where Confucius was born over 2,500 years ago. This week, more than 500 global leaders, scholars and cultural figures gathered at the 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in the Chinese mainland’s Shandong province. Under the banner "Beauty in Diversity: Nurturing Understanding Among Civilizations for Global Modernization," participants explored how ancient wisdom can inform today’s challenges.
Named after the nearby Nishan Mountain, formerly Ni Qiu Hill, the forum connects Confucian heritage with modern dialogue. Since its first edition in 2010, it has become a vital platform for cross-cultural exchange, drawing voices from politics, academia, business and the arts.
Sessions spanned topics such as integrating Confucian ethics into leadership models, applying age-old principles to AI ethics, and leveraging cultural insights for sustainable urban development. Experts highlighted real-world case studies, from startup incubators adopting community-focused values to digital nomad networks embracing inclusive collaboration.
For business and tech enthusiasts, the forum spotlighted emerging markets where ancient philosophies drive innovation. Thought leaders discussed policy frameworks that respect cultural contexts, while digital citizens shared how storytelling and data-driven insights build bridges across languages and borders.
As the forum concluded, attendees left with a shared conviction: by celebrating diversity in ideas and traditions, the global community can forge a more modern, inclusive future. Beauty in diversity, they agreed, is not just a slogan but a roadmap for collective progress.
Reference(s):
Beauty in diversity: How Nishan Forum inspires global modernization
cgtn.com
