On December 11th, the fifth International Conference on Confucianism was held at UIC. It was the first time that this conference was held in mainland China. The theme of this conference was Confucian Thought and Ecological Civilization.
Prof. Kwok delivered a openning speech
More than 120 scholars from mainland China, USA, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other places attended opening ceremony. During two-day conference, scholars would deepen into ideological resources of Chinese Confucianism and promote its combination with construction of modern ecological culture for better research and practice. More than 80 universities and institutes including Confucian Research Institute from People's University of China, Division of Social Science and Humanities from University of Macao University, Hong Kong Confucian Academy, Malaysia Confucian Studies Society, Taiwan Normal University took part in the conference. The organizing committee intended to publish a collection of high-quality conference papers.
During the opening ceremony, chairman of this conference, UIC Executive Vice-President S.T. Kwok said, comprehensive thinking is needed for the renaissance and renewal of Confucianism, which should also provide a resource of thought and a new set of meaning for the development of individuals and the world. It should place the Chinese traditional culture in a world wide communication platform. Prof. Kwok further pointed out that the theme of this conference: "Confucian Thought and Ecological Civilization" demonstrated Chinese culture's response to the development of the world. As an innovative international college, UIC highlighted the development of individuals, which was also a manifestation of the spirit of Confucianism, said Prof. Kwok.
President of Hong Kong Confucian Academy Tang Enjia, Chairman of Feng Shenjun Foundation of Chinese National Culture Studies Feng Shenjun, Professor of Hawaii University Cheng Zhongying delivered theme speeches respectively. UIC Distinguished Professors Gong Pengcheng and Zhou Zhiwen, Chairman of Malaysia Confucian Studies Society Lin Jinhua and other guests were also in attendance. Moreover, Confucius Institute of People's University of China, Tsinghua Academy of Chinese Culture Studies, Taiwan Goose Lake Monthly Press, Chinese Confucius Society, Codification and Research Center of Confucianism affiliated to Beijing University all sent congratulatory letters to UIC which were read out in the opening ceremony.
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Dr. Tang Enjia
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Prof. Feng Shenjun
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Prof. Chen Zhongying
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The International Conference on Confucianism was set up to promote Confucianism, to accelerate cultural prosperity and social development. It had been held in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macao and Indonesia since 2003. Such conferences won wide support from Confucianism Research Institute from both home and abroad. The conference had made great contributions to promotion of Confucianism and the construction of modern social culture.
Reporter: Cheryl Chen
Translator: Huang Shanqing
Editor: Richard Xu
Photo by Yao Weiwei
MCO
