From August 1 to 4, The China-ASEAN Confucian International Forum on Family Affection and Responsibility: Family Ethics from a Global Perspective, co-sponsored by Taoist Academy of Malaysia, Collaborative Innovation Center of Confucian Civilization at Shandong University, Zengzi Research Society of China Philosophy History Association, Modern Confucianism Foundation, was held in Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia. Scholars and leaders attending the opening ceremony of the Forum and delivering speeches include: Lu Shiwei, Consul General of China in Penang, Malaysia; Mr. Ahmad bin Kasim, Speaker of the Legislative Council of Kedah, Malaysia; Mr. Yeung Ching Chuang, Assemblyman of Kedah, Prof. Wang Chenfa, Co-Chair of the Forum and Dean of Taoist Academy of Malaysia; Zeng Zhenyu, Co-chair of the Forum, President of The Zengzi Research Society, President of The China Zengzi Research Institute, and Professor of the Advanced Institute of Confucian Studies at Shandong University, Dr. Du Nanfa, Modern Confucianism Foundation of Singapore.
At the opening ceremony, Ahmad Kasim and Yeung Ching Chuang gave full affirmation to the significance of the forum and hoped that the scholars attending the forum could give more valuable suggestions on Confucian culture and cultural construction of Malaysian Chinese community. The Ministry of Education of Malaysia attaches great importance to this forum, and the Minister of Education issued a certificate of honor to each of the speakers.
Lu Shiwei said that Confucianism is an important part of Chinese culture, experts from many countries and regions gathered in Kulim, communicate with each other, to promote dialogue among civilizations and the exchange of mutual learning and the harmonious development of the world is of great significance. Kedah is an important state in Malaysia, with a long history, outstanding people and abundant resources. Kulim is a city inhabited by Chinese people, where Chinese culture has been well inherited and developed. It is hoped that Kedah and Kulim will take the opportunity of the China-ASEAN Confucianism International Forum to further promote the cultural heritage of China and promote people-to-people exchanges and China-Malaysia friendship. He said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, and next year will be the Year of Culture and tourism between China and Malaysia, and bilateral relations are facing good opportunities for development. Cultural exchanges are an important part of the development of bilateral relations. It is expected that Kedah and its neighboring states will hold more such exchanges to promote the cultural exchanges and bilateral relations between the two countries.
Prof. Wang Chenfa said that dialogue between civilizations is carried by people and affects each other in People's daily life. After the spread of Confucian civilization around the world, it was inevitable that other civilizations would encounter each other and undergo thousands of years of evolution in different regions, forming different cultural forms. Therefore, there is a need for dialogue within Confucian culture and between Confucian culture and different cultures in the world.
According to Prof. Zeng Zhenyu, Confucian culture originated in China, however, it has become a world civilization and is no longer a regional culture. Civilizations need dialogue, but more importantly, we need to work together to create a better future for mankind. The Confucian values and ideals that keep pace with the times can play the role of cultural support and moral foundation in the future modernization of mankind.
Dr. Du Nanfa, Prof. Fang Zhaohui of Tsinghua University, Prof. Jin Bixia from Malaysia Polytechnic University, Prof.Deng Hong from Kitakyushu University, Prof. Wu Jin’an from Yunlin University of Science and Technology, and Prof. Kim Do Il from Sungkyunkwan University have delivered keynote speeches on such topics as "Modern Confucius Thought and family Ethics", "Kinship, Decency and Order", " The Influence of Confucian Respect for Teachers on Chinese Education in Malaysia", "Yangming Studies on Youth Cultivation", " Cultural Maladjustment and Adjustment: From the Perspective of the Dilemma of Traditional Filial Piety", and "Mencius' Influence Politics". Prof. Zeng Zhenyu, Prof. Zhai Kuifeng and Prof. Chen Chenjie from Advanced Institute of Confucian Studies at Shandong University delivered key speeches on "the Great Transformation of Confucianism in the Pre-Qin Period from Filial piety to Benevolence", "Benevolence and Great Harmony in the East Asian World", and "The 'Bao' Ethics of Confucianism in the Pre-Qin Period and Its Contemporary Value", which aroused the attention and heated discussion of the scholars attending the meeting.
At the closing ceremony of the forum, Prof. Zeng Zhenyu made a summary and prospected the further cooperation and exchange between Shandong University and the future China-ASEAN Confucianism International Forum. In his closing speech, Mr. Sun Wensi, assistant governor of Malaysia's Kedah State, fondly recalled his father's education to him when he was a child, thinking that as the descendant of Malay Chinese, he was just brought up in the infiltration of Chinese Confucian culture. At the closing ceremony of the conference, the Kulim Declaration was issued, which elaborated on the necessity of dialogue among world civilizations and the practical significance of the diversity of civilizations, as well as the worldwide significance of Confucian civilization. The delegates agreed that Confucian culture will play an increasingly important role in building a community with a shared future for mankind. The scholars also took an in-depth look at the historical changes and current social and cultural life of the Chinese community, as well as their history of struggle in Malaysia. The spirit of Confucian culture in Malaysia deeply impressed the scholars.
The China-ASEAN International Forum on Confucianism was jointly founded by Prof. Wang Chenfa and Prof. Zeng Zhenyu. From Shandong university, Tsinghua University, Nankai University, Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Zhongshan Medical University, University of Tainan, Huwei University of Science and Technology, Taiwan Union University, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Taiwan Normal University, Wenzhou University, Putian College, Polytechnic University, College of Taoism in Malaysia, the University of Kitakyushu, Sungkyunkwan University, Modern Confucianism Foundation of Singapore…More than 30 scholars from different countries and regions attended this conference, some Overseas Chinese from Kedah, Malaysia also attended.
On August 5, Lu Shiwei met with Prof. Wang Chenfa and Prof. Zeng Zhenyu in the Consulate, as well as some experts and scholars attending the international forum. The two sides exchanged views on cultural and academic exchanges between China and Malaysia. Lu said that Malaysia has a large number of Ethnic Chinese, a solid foundation in Chinese language education and a good heritage of Chinese culture, and has its own advantages in the study of Chinese culture. China's cultural and academic exchanges with other countries are constantly expanding, so the two sides have great space for exchanges and cooperation. Next year would be the China-Malaysia Year of Culture and Tourism. Lu hoped that all experts and scholars would actively build a platform for exchanges and make contributions to promoting cultural and academic exchanges and people-to-people ties between China and Malaysia. Experts and scholars indicated that they will actively organize more cultural and academic activities and make full use of Malaysia's advantages to contribute to promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia, jointly building "One Belt And One Road" and spreading Chinese culture.
