What they say

Chinese culture will play a significant role in the great undertaking of forging new common ethics for mankind thanks to the fact that the outstanding features of Chinese culture make up for the deficiency of modernity and rectify the aberrations from modernization. These features include Chinese people's cosmic views on the harmony of man with nature, social views of harmony in diversity, and values of taking ren (benevolence) as one's own duty and self-cultivation. The Nishan Forum and intellectuals across China are very willing to contribute to the cause."

Xu Jialu, chairman of Nishan Forum, vice-chairman of the standing committee of the ninth and 10th National People's Congress

We all know that there are more than 200 countries and 2,000 ethnic groups in the world that use over 6,000 kinds of languages. So it is necessary to promote communication and dialog among civilizations amid the world's rapid globalization. To have a successful dialog, a sincere and frank manner is important to declaring one's point of view and listen to another's voice. It is good to know something we didn't know before. We make great gains if we can reach consensus."