The 2021 China (Qufu) International Confucius Cultural Festival and the 7th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations opened in Qufu, Shandong, on September 27th. Nearly 200 Chinese and international experts and scholars engaged in debates and exchanges of views under the theme of “Dialogue among Civilizations and Global Cooperation” within two days.

Yang Chaoming (Deputy Director of Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies and President of China Confucius Research Institute)

The basic cultural features of love and respect forge the anti-epidemic spirit.

Yang Chaoming said that the emotion of love is common to everyone, and it is a natural feeling. In traditional Chinese culture, love is refined as "benevolence." Humanity shares the same future, and people should learn to love and trust each other. For thousands of years, it has been China's consistent noble cause to seek harmonious international relations and pursue the common good. Yang Chaoming said: "China's benevolence knows no borders or national boundaries. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China immediately shared its own anti-epidemic experience with the world.

What goes together with the spirit of benevolence is the concept of awe. Faced with ravaging COVID-19, China has shown a high degree of awe and cautiousness. It also shows the basic feature of Chinese culture that put life and people first. Yang Chaoming said that the fight against COVID-19 is arduous, but the Chinese dare to fight, dare to win, and are united for the same future. The Chinese culture, based on love and respect, finally produced the great enti0epidemic spirit.