The Fifth Session of the International Youth Study Program on Chinese Culture and the Ninth Beijing Philosophical Summer School kicked off at the Jingshi Academy in the Beijing Normal University (BNU) on July 10. 

Hosted by the International Confucian Association (ICA) and the BNU, the program welcomed over 40 young scholars from 29 countries and regions, exploring the theme "Inclusiveness, Interconnection, and Common Development: Core Values in Chinese Traditional Culture".

The initiative aims to foster global cultural understanding, respect, and integration, emphasizing China's positive role in globalization.

Prominent figures, including the ICA Vice President Yu Jianfu and the BNU Vice President Zhou Zuoyu, and other guests attended the opening ceremony.

Yu emphasized the mission and responsibilities of the ICA, reviewed the development process of the study program and highly praised its contributions.

He pointed out that this study program focuses on the inclusiveness and peaceful nature of Chinese civilization, advocates for respecting cultural diversity, promotes cultural exchanges and mutual learning, deepens global value consensus, demonstrates China's positive role in globalization, and will help build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Zhou noted that the world is currently undergoing unprecedented changes, facing increasing global challenges, and the improvement of governance systems is crucial, with cultural exchanges and mutual learning being particularly essential.

He said Chinese culture, especially Confucianism, plays an important role in creating a new form of human civilization, and its rich value concepts provide important references for modern governance.

Participants, such as Martina Moretti from the University of Macerata of Italy, praised the depth of Chinese culture and its influence across various fields.

Through activities involving calligraphy and music, the program offers a platform for young scholars to explore Chinese wisdom and culture, fostering curiosity, community spirit, and cooperation among participants.

The program, now in its fifth session, has seen successful engagement over the years, with this year's edition featuring renowned scholars from prestigious universities worldwide. Through a mix of lectures, roundtable discussions, cultural experiences, and much more, the initiative aims to deepen the understanding of Chinese traditional values and facilitate extensive exchanges among young scholars from diverse backgrounds.

This year’s program attracted 11 renowned scholars from nine prestigious universities at home and abroad. Through engaging academic lectures and discussions on the core values of Chinese culture with global youth, the participants will spend over ten days in a diverse range of study activities, including lectures, roundtable forums, cultural experiences, study tours, group discussions, artistic creations, and academic presentations to enhance their understanding of the core values in Chinese traditional culture.