Nishan Forum to explore civilization and AI in global governance

The 2026 Nishan Forum on World Civilizations will be held in Qufu, Shandong province, from Sept 28 to 29, under the theme "Civilization · Order · Axiom".

The forum will focus on the contemporary value of Confucianism around the globe, the role of civilizational resilience in global governance, cross-cultural dialogue, and the potential of artificial intelligence to create a harmonious world. About 340 guests have confirmed attendance, covering more than 40 countries and regions.

"The forum is a comprehensive humanities forum dedicated to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and enhancing dialogue among civilizations," said Liu Hao, deputy director of the Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies, at a news conference on Tuesday.

Liu said the forum would embrace the diversity of civilizations and advocate inclusiveness, coexistence, and mutual learning. "We will build consensus through dialogue among civilizations and respond to global governance challenges with Eastern wisdom," he added.

The opening ceremony and the first keynote speech session will be held on the afternoon of Sept 28. The morning of Sept 29 will include eight panel discussions and two high-level interview sessions, along with parallel forums on sports and Confucian merchant culture. The second keynote speech session and the closing ceremony will take place that afternoon, when the Consensus of the 2026 Nishan Forum on World Civilizations will be released.

In terms of academic exchange, Kong Deli, director and researcher of the Confucius Research Institute, said 236 scholars have confirmed participation, including 97 overseas, and will bring their latest research results and cutting-edge academic explorations. Kong added that this year's forum would deepen the integration of festival and academic resources.