Cultural forum held to promote harmony amid diversity

The Second Nishan Forum on World Civilizations dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and cross-cultural dialogue opened Monday morning in Confucius' birthplace Qufu, a city in east China's Shandong province.

With a theme of "Harmony with diversity and the harmonious world: belief, moral values, respect, solidarity," the three-day event has drawn over 90 experts and scholars from more than 20 countries.

Organizing Committee President Xu Jialu, a former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said people with different beliefs should be equally respected.

The forum opened to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the "World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development," which the United Nations declared at the General Assembly in 2002.

UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning Hans d' Orville said that the forum explores that "Confucius and cultural diversity are essential today in a globalizing world where we have to explore how humanity can attain a peaceful co-existence."

The forum, named after Ninshan Mountain where, in a cave, Confucius is believed to be born.

The First Nishan Forum was held in September 2010, during which the Nishan Declaration of Harmony was issued, calling for dialogue and communication among civilizations.