Forum reaches beyond the individual

"When friends come from afar, isn't it a delight?" said Confucius some 2,500 years ago. If the great thinker were still alive today, he would have been delighted to see that people from across the world have gathered in his hometown, discussing the value of Confucianism while exploring the path toward a harmonious world.

The Third Nishan Forum on World Civilizations was held in Ji-nan in Shandong province over three days last week. The conference, with a theme of "common human ethics amid different beliefs," attracted some 130 experts and academics on philosophy, theology, religious and cultural studies from different cultural backgrounds.

Participants agreed that the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture, especially the teachings of Confucius, can greatly contribute to problem-solving in modern times.