Overview of Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies

In November 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Qufu, Shandong Province, sounded a clarion call to carry forward the fine traditional Chinese culture and highlighted the cultural sector’s mission to demonstrate that every nation with unique culture and history will have a distinctive development path, the fine traditional Chinese culture encapsulates the essence of Chinese values, and nourishes and underpins China’s growth, and that Socialism with Chinese Characteristics has profound historical origins, broad public support and is in line with modern development. He also made an appeal to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the fine traditional Chinese culture. To follow up on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions and leverage the unique advantages of Shandong as the birthplace of Confucian culture, the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and the Ministry of Education jointly established the Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies on August 25, 2019. It is positioned as a pioneer in gathering and cultivating global Confucian scholars and promoting Confucianism research, popularization and international exchanges.

The Center adopts the director responsibility system under the leadership of the Council. Jin Nuo, former Party Secretary of Renmin University of China, and Bai Yugang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and director of the Shandong Provincial Publicity Department, serve as the Chairmen of the Council. Bai Yugang also serves as the director of the Center, while Guo Chengyan is the Party Secretary and deputy director of the Center (Secretariat of China Confucius Foundation), and Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of China Confucius Foundation. The Center has set up academic committees and expert databases, built several branches at home and abroad, and formed a structure of “one center, multiple sub-centers and several research bases”. A joint graduate school has also been built in partnership with domestic first-class universities.

At a new starting point, we have embarked on a new journey towards a new mission. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Center will follow the instructions of the Ministry of Education and the Shandong provincial leadership to build a high-caliber platform for promoting Confucianism, pursue the missions of carrying forward the fine traditional Chinese culture and deepening exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, and strive to build a world-recognized Confucianism center with global appeal. It will make significant contributions to promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture as well as raising its awareness overseas, deepening exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, and building a human community with a shared future.