Nishan Forum on World Civilizations is named after Nishan—the birthplace of Confucius, a great thinker and educator in ancient China. With its theme on dialogue among different civilizations, it aims to push forward cultural exchanges between China and other countries and to promote the construction of a more harmonious world by launching international and open-minded talks and speeches, via both scholarly conference and folk exchanges. The Nishan Forum is held every two years and has been successfully convened for four times. It is the first world civilization forum that aims to promote dialogue among different civilizations and its venue permanently located at Qufu--the cradle of Chinese Confucianism, and the Nishan Forum is also the first world-class forum hosted by Chinese nationalities and having extensive influence both at home and abroad since it was first held in 2010.

1. Orientation

The forum is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to promote dialogue, exchanges, cooperation, mutual learning and integration of world civilizations. It aims to promote the construction of the Community of Destiny, focusing on the innovative development of traditional Chinese culture.

2. Time and Venue

The 5th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations is scheduled to be held in Qufu, China from September 26 to 28, 2018. Qufu, China is the permanent venue of the forum.

Qufu is the hometown of Confucius and the birthplace of Confucian culture. As the mainstream of Chinese traditional culture, Confucius and Confucianism have indelible contributions to the development of China and the progress of human civilization. Confucius' thoughts and theories have already surpassed the times and national boundaries and become an important heritage in the world's historical and cultural treasure house. The forum, held in Nishan highlights the dominant position of Chinese civilization in the dialogue among world civilizations, and has special cultural significance.

3. Organization

The Fifth Nishan Forum is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and the People's Government of Shandong Province. The forum sets up an Academic Committee to be responsible for the theme planning, content design, research report and promotion of the forum.

4. Theme

The theme of Fifth Nishan Forum is "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.

5. Merits

(1) This is the new forum held after the 19th CPC National Congress. The forum is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and is committed to protecting world cultural diversity, and promoting the building of the community of destiny. On the basis of summarizing the previous four forums and learning from the experience of other forums, Nishan forum will become an important platform for promoting ideological and cultural exchanges among different civilizations.

(2) This is the new forum held on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the inspection of Qufu by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In November 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected Qufu and delivered an important speech on promoting the excellent Chinese traditional culture. He emphasized that the prosperity of a country and a nation is always supported by cultural prosperity. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation requires the development and prosperity of Chinese culture. Holding the Fifth Nishan Forum is to implement this requirement. The purpose is to continuously enhance the self-confidence of the Chinese culture through the exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and make due contributions to the promotion of excellent traditional culture and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

(3) This is a new forum with mechanism construction, inheriting the past and ushering in the future. Since the first Nishan forum was held in 2010, the forum has gradually become mature, and has become a platform for cross civilization dialogue with high visibility and influence, and has the foundation and conditions for sustainable development. The Fifth Nishan Forum is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and the People's Government of Shandong Province. Focusing on the mechanism construction, the forum has effectively integrated Shandong's cultural resources and further promoted the level of the forum. Nishan forum has realized the scientific, standardized and institutionalized work of the forum by multiple ways, such as raising the level and scale of the forum and setting up the academic committee.

(4)This is a new forum held in Shandong under the new situation of giving full play to its cultural advantages and building a new highland for opening up. As an important birthplace of Chinese civilization and the birthplace of Confucian culture, Shandong occupies an important position in promoting Chinese culture to go global. The Nishan Forum focuses on highlighting ideological and cultural characteristics, and will give full play to the rich advantages of Shandong cultural resources, gather and explore unique Confucian culture, and strive to build a new highland for Confucianism research and dissemination, further promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and enhance Confucianism around the world.