JI’NAN—On Sept. 15, the Symposium on International Exchange and Integration on Confucianism and a New Model for Human Advancement, hosted by the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), was convened in Ji’nan, capital city of Shandong Province.

New model for human advancement

The new model for human advancement created out of the uniquely Chinese path to modernization, from the perspective of human civilization’s diversity and the common values of humanity, reflects the strong confidence of Chinese culture in going global, embracing the world, and making greater contributions to humanity. It also demonstrates China’s great vision for peaceful development, openness and inclusiveness, and building a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era.

Yuan Hongying, Party secretary and president of SASS, noted that the “new model for human advancement” created by the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, declares a new philosophy and pursuit for world civilization. It advocates for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, and the development paths and models chosen by countries independently. It aims to put an end to estrangement between civilizations in favor of exchanges, replace conflicts among civilizations with mutual learning, and go beyond civilizational superiority to champion coexistence of civilizations, striving to present the diversity of the world as the colorful natural form of human civilization.

The new model for human advancement was created on the basis of splendid civilization, formed through the historical evolution of the Chinese nation over more than 5,000 years, and it has learned much from human civilization’s valuable achievements.

Zhai Kuifeng, deputy dean of the School of Philosophy and Social Development at Shandong University, pointed out that in its over-five-millennia history of cultural accumulation, Chinese civilization has cultivated an ethos of benevolence, valuing the people, retaining integrity, upholding justice, favoring harmony, and seeking great unity. In terms of political culture, the idea of Da Yi Tong (Great Unification) runs through the development direction of the community for the Chinese nation and the evolutionary pattern of pluralistic unity, while the national character of “striving ceaselessly to strengthen itself and cultivate great virtue” has established a value consensus and provided mental power for maintaining the “Great Unification” pattern, and building an ideal society of great unity.

Expectations for Confucianism

At the symposium, attendees conducted in-depth discussions on how to draw inspirations from the fine traditional Chinese culture to solve problems facing humanity today.

Qiao Qingju, a professor of philosophy from the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC (National Academy of Governance), believes that the new model for human advancement, created out of practices of uniquely Chinese modernization, implies the ecological requirement for the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. Drawing rich intellectual resources from Chinese civilization, it indicates an inclusive view of the universe and ecology.

The upgrade of the model of human civilization is accompanied by an adjusted contemporary international political order, the evolution of the economic landscape, and the rapid development of advanced technologies, said Gan Chunsong, a professor of philosophy from Peking University.

In this context, contemporary Confucian studies urgently needs to delve deeper into international science and technology, politics and economics, pay attention to the construction of the community with a shared future for mankind, and continuously activate Confucian resources through the new model for human advancement, Gan said.

“Confucianism’s development can contribute to the development of world civilization and Chinese civilization only if its fundamental ideas truly approach modern life,” Gan said.

Confucianism, with a history of more than 2,000 years, is not only an important part of traditional Chinese culture, but also has a profound impact on the world, especially on East Asian civilization. Contemporary Confucian dialogue also plays an important role in the exchange and integration of world civilizations.

Historically, Confucian culture in East Asia transcended differences in time, regions, and ethnicity, said Zhou Haisheng, deputy director of the Confucius Institute of Culture at Qufu Normal University. Some ideas in particular, such as “the benevolent man loves others,” “harmony in diversity,” “holding righteousness to be of highest importance,” and “not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself,” have increasingly become principles commonly accepted in the global dialogue of civilizations, and have been absorbed in the construction of common values of humanity.

“Harmony in diversity is an ideal that the Chinese nation has always been pursuing,” said Zhang Wei, director of the Institute of Cultural Studies at SASS. Advocating for the community with a shared future for mankind is conducive to cultural integration and development on the basis of ethnic and cultural diversity, Zhang concluded.