On September 27th, the Opening Ceremony of the 7th Session of the World Confucian Conference and the Awarding Ceremony of Confucius Culture Prize 2015 was grandly held at Confucius Research Institute, located at Confucius’ hometown Qufu. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Qiangba Puncog, Member of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial Party Committee, Director of Propaganda Department of Shandong Provincial Party Committee Sun Shougang, Director of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial People’s Congress Song Yuanfang, Vice President of Chinese National Academy of Arts, Researcher Jia Leilei, Deputy Secretary General of Shandong provincial government Li E, vice minister of Shandong provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department and  director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture Xu Xianghong, vice director Li Guolin, Vice Chairman of China Confucius Foundation Niu Tingtao, Secretary of the CPC Jining Municipal Committee and director of Jining municipal people’s Congress Standing Committee Ma Pingchang, Member of Jining municipal Party Committee and Director of Jining Municipal Propaganda Department Li Changwen, Deputy Director of Jining municipal people’s Congress Standing Committee Shang Jianshe, Vice Mayor of Jining city Wu Jiwen, Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Confucius Research Institute Li Dayou, and Dean Yang Chaoming attended the conference. The opening ceremony and awarding ceremony was presided over by Vice Governor of Shandong province Ji Xiangqi.
     The World Confucian Conference is an international Confucian event co-sponsored by Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of Chinaand People’s Government of Shandong Province and organized by Chinese National Academy of Arts, Shandong Provincial Department ofCulture, China Confucius Foundation, International Confucian Association, People’s Government of Ji’ning City and Chinese Confucius Research Institute, held two years a time at Confucius’ hometown Qufu (Confucius Research Institute). The purpose is to promote international Confucianism research and exchange, to inherit and popularize the excellent traditional culture of China, to explore the value and significance of Confucianism, to enhance the dialogue and exchanges among different civilizations and to promote the peace, harmony and development of human society. In the opening ceremony, the Confucius Culture Prize was awarded synchronously.
     Since the inaugural meeting in 2007, seven sessions of the World Confucian Conference has been held. The conference has become an international high-level academic exchange platform in carrying forward Confucianism and discussing Chinese excellent traditional culture. In this session we adhered to the consistent purpose of the past sessions, build independent and equal academic atmosphere, invited renowned scholars, Confucian organizations and institutes both domestic and overseas, encouraged cross-regional, cross- disciplinary and cross-industry Confucian research, both paid attention to the basic theoretical research and closely connected Confucianism research with the contemporary value construction, explored the significance and function of Confucianism in contemporary value construction. Over 150 delegates from 15 countries and regions such as the mainland of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, America, Germany, Russia, Macedonia, Egypt, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Mongolia carried out deep discussion and extensive dialogue according to the theme of “Confucianism and Modern Value Construction”, around the four sub-topics “the Philosophical Mission of Confucianism in Contemporary Times”, “Confucianism and the Construction of the Cultural Soft Power of Our Nation”, “the Confucian Liyue Culture and the Social Morality”, “Confucianism and Public Cultural Spaces”.
     In his speech, Member of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial Party Committee, Director of Propaganda Department of Shandong Provincial Party Committee Sun Shougang, pointed out that the Confucianism founded by Confucius is both the treasure of Chinese culture and the important component of the splendid world civilization. No matter how the society reformed and developed, the past Confucian philosophers of all generations were dedicated to the innovation and application of Confucianism consistently, to the effect that the ancient Confucianism constantly developed, was inherited until nowadays, and become a grand social science, broad and profound, influencing both the ancient times and the contemporary age, both China and the world, and an important thought source to solve the common crisis and conflict of human beings recognized by people all over the world.
     In his speech, Secretary of the CPC Jining Municipal Committee and director of Jining municipal people’s Congress Standing Committee Ma Pingchang pointed out that Jining city is the birthplace of the Confucian culture, while the World Confucian Conference makes Jining the gathering place of Neo-Confucianism. We are pride and honored for this, and meanwhile, we have a clear mind of our responsibility. We will cherish the honor of the host city of the World Confucian Conference, try our best to provide superior service for the conference, and make contribution in promoting the exchange and development of Confucianism, and popularizing Confucianism.
     Vice President of Chinese National Academy of Arts, Researcher Jia Leilei gave the keynote speech on behalf of the organizers. He pointed out that only by rooting in contemporary China and the contemporary world, could Confucianism realize the creative transformation and innovative development. Many Confucian value outlooks not only influenced the numerous individuals, but also constitute our thoughts in ruling the country and dealing with politics. The Confucian doctrines are not only the historical documents, but also Chinese people’s spiritual pursuit for idealistic society. This thinking with unique charm is the spiritual wealth of both Chinese nation and human beings. We should continue to carry forward the spirit of arduous struggle, and make greater contribution to the research, popularization, communication and spread of Chinese excellent traditional culture, with the grand vision of focusing the human beings community with common destiny, closely combining the development of contemporary China.
     Professor of Tsinghua University Zhang Qizhi, Chair Professor of Humanities, Peking University, Deputy Dean of International Institute of Philosophy and Winner of Confucius Culture Prize 2009 TU Weiming, Professor of Minzu University of China, Vice President of International Confucian Association, and Winner of Confucius Culture Prize 2012 Mu Zhongjian, Professor of Bond University, Australia, and Vice President of International Confucian Association Reg Little gave their respective keynote speeches on behalf of the delegates.
     The Awarding Ceremony of Confucius Culture Prize 2015 was held synchronously. The individual winners are Professor of Tsinghua University Mr. Chen Lai and Professor of Southwest University of Political Science and Law Mr. Dong Jinyu. The Confucius Culture Prize is an international prize co-established by the Ministry of Culture of People’s Republic of China and People’s Government of Shandong Province, aiming at encouraging the organizations, individuals and non-governmental organizations to explore the value and significance of Confucius, Confucianism and Chinese traditional culture standing at the height of the Times, strengthen the discussion and exchange of the Confucianism achievements, promote the inheritance and spread of the Confucian culture and Chinese culture, enrich the content of the world culture, promote the dialogue and communication among multiple civilizations, promote the construction and development of the world pluralistic culture, and the peace, harmony and progress of human society. The Confucius Culture Prize was selected annually through the international platform of the World Confucian Conference since 2009, as the highest awards in Confucianism research. According to the new constitution of the World Confucian Conference, the conference would be held two years a time, and the Confucius Culture Prize would be selected two years a time accordingly. As a rule, two individuals or organizations will be selected each time to commend the organizations, individuals and non-governmental organizations that have made extraordinary contribution to the research and spread of Chinese excellent traditional culture.
     The innovation points of this session of the World Confucian Conference are as follows:
     Firstly, the theme and sub topics of this session were fixed closely connected with the contemporary hot issues.
     Secondly, we publish the new Confucianism achievements intensively for the first time, besides the collected papers of the conference, we also published the following works: World Confucianism Development Report (2014-2015), The Book Series of Confucius Culture Prize Academic Quintessence (Volume 1-6), The Collection of the Academic Speeches of Chunqiu Forum and so on.
     Thirdly, we plotted and held the Youth Doctor Forum for the first time.
     Fourthly, we hold the Mid-Autumn Festival Confucian Night Talk for the first time.
     Fifthly, we held the Confucian Pilgrim of Chinese, Japanese and South Korean youth for the first time.
     Sixthly, we set the sub venue for the first time. The “Youth Doctor Forum” will be held at Mencius’ hometown Zoucheng.
     This session of the conference coincides with the 2566th birthday of Confucius, all the delegates participated in the Confucius Memorial Ceremony 2015.