On the morning of February 26, Branko Balon, a visiting scholar of "Qilu Visiting Research Program", deliveredan academic lecture entitled "Civilization Innovation: A New Driving Force to Inspire Mankind" at the Nishan World Center of Confucian Studies (Secretariat of China Confucius Foundation). Guo Chengyan, secretary of the party committeeand deputy director of Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies (Secretariat of China Confucius Foundation), Secretary-General of China Confucius Foundation, attended the event and presented Balon with the appointment letter of Special Researcher of Nisan World Center for Confucian Studies and the Visiting Scholar certificate of "Qilu Visiting Research Program".

Branko Balon is chairman of the Croatia-China Friendship Association and professor of Computer Science at ALGEBRA University in Zagreb, Croatia. As the firstvisiting scholar of the "Qilu Visiting Research Program", he has visited academic research institutions and famous universities such as Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies, China Confucius Research Institute, Confucius Museum, the Mencius Research Institute, Shandong University and Shandong Normal University for more than 20 days. Balon also visiteshistorical sites like the Kong Family Mansion, the Temple of Confucius, the Meng Family Mansion, the Temple of Menciusto experience the beauty of QiLu culture up close and appreciate the contemporary brilliance of China's excellent traditional culture inthe new era.

During his stay at the Institute, Guo Chengyan met with Balon, extended a warm welcome to himand spoke highly of Balon's positive contribution to the cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Croatia. Guo Chengyan pointed out that Baloncame on the occasion of the Chinese Spring Festival thushe can deeply feel the traditional Chinese culture from the strong festive atmosphere. Nisan World Centerfor Confucian Studiesand China Confucius Foundation shoulder the important mission of strengthening cultural exchanges with overseas countries. Through a series of measuressuch as building overseas branch centers, setting up overseas Confucius schools, holding the Nisan World Civilization Forum, and conducting foreign translation of classics, they actively promote Chinese culture to the world and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.As the first scholar of the "Qilu Visiting Research Program", Balon's study visit will give a strong boost to the cultural exchanges for Nishan World Center of Confucian Studies and China Confucius Foundationin Croatia and its neighboring countries and regions, and play a more active role in future cooperation. Balon is full of expectations for future cooperation and expressed his willingness to continue to contribute to promoting friendly cooperation, cultural exchanges and scientific research cooperation between the two countries.

At the lecture, Balonelaborated on the contributions of innovation to human civilization from multiple dimensions, including technological innovation, biotechnology, renewable new energy, and space exploration, and he gave high praise to Chinese civilization. He believes that the new momentum generated by civilizational innovation will shape the course of human history in profound and transformative ways. In today's world, the accelerating pace of technological innovation creates more challenges in terms of regulation, privacy, fairness and accountability. Therefore, innovation should be guided by ethical principles and governed with greater responsibility to ensure sustainable and inclusive development.

In order to implement the Global Civilization Initiativeproposed by President Xi Jinpingand deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, the "Qilu Visiting Research Program" is an important measure to build a bridge of international cultural exchange and cooperation based on the advantages of Shandong's Confucian cultural resources, which is jointly initiated by Nishan World Center for ConfucianStudy, China Confucius Foundation and Shandong University under the guidance of the Publicity Department of Shandong Provincial Party Committee and supported by Shandong Publishing Group.Internationally renowned Sinologists will be invited to conduct research in Shandong. Focusing on the inheritance and development of classical civilization, they carry out academic cooperation with universities and think tanks at home and abroad, and jointly produce high-quality academic achievements that reflect both ancient and modern times and integrate Chinese and foreign cultures.

Liu Hao, member of the Party Committee and deputy director of Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies (Secretariat of China Confucius Foundation) and Mi Huaiyong, member of the Party Committee and deputy secretary-general, attended the event; Wen Haiming, member of the Party Committee and deputy director, presided over the event. All staff from Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies (Secretariat of China Confucius Foundation), China Confucius Research Institute, Confucius Museum, and Mencius Research Institute participated in the event.