On the afternoon of September 27, the Fifth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations closed in Qufu. Gong Zheng, deputy secretary of the provincial Party committee of Shandong Province, delivered the closing speech. Fan Liming, president of Shandong University, made an academic summary of the forum.

Gong Zheng expressed congratulations on the success of the Fifth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations. He said that the fifth Nishan forum has achieved fruitful results, enhanced cultural consensus between China and foreign countries, and promoted the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations. We will make use of the results of the forum, and make concerted efforts to build a highland of exchanges and mutual learning among the world civilizations. Gong Zheng pointed out that facing the future, we advocate strengthening exchanges and mutual learning based on maintaining the diversity of world civilizations. We will continue to support the completion of the Nishan Forum, and create a frontier window for mutual learning between civilizations and an important platform for cultural exchanges. We will effectively integrate the resources of Confucianism across the province, strive to build a world Confucian education research highland, and promote the innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture.

Fan Liming introduced the general situation and main characteristics of the fifth Nishan forum, sorted out the main academic views of the scholars attending the forum, and elaborated the enlightenment of this forum. She said that civilizations need communication in order to achieve communication and integration. Human society is a community, not a game between different ethnic groups for short-term interests. This is the biggest enlightenment left to us by this forum.

The Fifth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations was held in Qufu, Shandong, from September 26 to September 28, when as many as 240 experts and scholars from more than 30 countries and regions, including China, the United States, Chile, Pakistan, etc., gathered in Confucius' hometown to discuss and explore possibilities for the world to resolve conflicts and promote harmony. Its theme slogan reads: "Integrated Progress, Shared Future: Integration of Civilizations toward a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind", and the theme consists of three sub-topics: exploration on developing the "Belt and Road" initiative and the community with shared future for mankind; responsibility and bearing burdens; preservation of cultural heritage and a community with shared future for mankind.

Compared with previous forums, this year's forum is highlighted by five of its merits: first, it boasts the largest scale and attendance, as its opening ceremony was held in unison with the 2018 China Qufu International Confucius Cultural Festival; second, it lays stress on the theme design of harmony between different civilizations and building a community of mankind with shared future; third, it gives prominence to the "Belt and Road" initiative by creating a meeting of dialogues by mayors of coastal cities; forth, it sets a sub-forum—a Forum on World Women, which probes into topics on empowerment of women and global development; fifth, it attracts many young scholars to air their views and suggestions on establishing a community with shared future for mankind.