Returning to Nishan Once Again: How Can Civilizational Dialogue Respond to Global Changes?
The Nishan Forum on World Civilizations focuses on civilizational exchange and global governance, responding to real-world challenges 16 years of civilizational dialogue continue the consensus; a quick look at new thinking on AI ethics and the international order
The 2026 Nishan World Civilization Forum was held in Qufu, Shandong, from September 28 to 29, coinciding with the 2,577th anniversary of Confucius's birth. Political leaders, scholars, and representatives from various sectors from China and abroad discussed "Civilization · Order · Public Reason," focusing on how civilizational exchange can respond to current global governance challenges.
The article reviews the development of the Nishan Forum over the past 16 years: from the inaugural forum's proposal of "harmony in diversity and a harmonious world" to the release of the "2026 Nishan World Civilization Forum Consensus" at this year's closing ceremony, the forum has continuously sought to turn civilizational dialogue into public understanding and a shared basis for action.
One of the important topics at this year's forum was artificial intelligence. Experts attending the forum discussed the relationship between technological development and humanistic values from the perspectives of algorithmic bias, the digital divide, and tech ethics, emphasizing the need to remain cautious and rational amid technological iteration. The consensus released at the end of the forum also reaffirmed that different civilizations should coexist equally, and that the international order should be jointly shaped and maintained by all parties.