Scholars from around the globe have congregated in East China’s Shandong Province to participate in the prestigious Nishan Forum, an event dedicated to the exploration of shared human values that transcend various civilizations. Among the distinguished attendees was Jeffrey Sachs, a prominent American scholar, who emphasized the urgent need for countries to unite in identifying these common values. He underscored the potential of common values to resolve global tensions, address the world’s crises, and foster peace and harmony among nations worldwide.
The Ninth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations, themed “Common values of all humanity and a global community of shared future: Strengthening cultural exchange and mutual learning to jointly address global challenges,” was inaugurated in the historic city of Qufu, Shandong. Qufu holds special significance as the hometown of China’s revered ancient philosopher, Confucius, adding a profound layer of symbolism to the event.
Jeffrey Sachs, a distinguished professor and the director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, played a pivotal role in the forum’s deliberations. His insights shed light on the significance of seeking common values in today’s complex world. Sachs emphasized, “We can have common values in the world. This is a matter of potentiality, but we do not currently have common values in the world. We have great divisions, tremendous distrust, unprecedented tensions, and very great dangers in the world.”
Sachs identified several factors contributing to the escalating global tensions. One notable development is the shift away from the North Atlantic-dominated world order, largely due to China’s remarkable economic growth and the progress achieved in various regions worldwide. As we transition into a multipolar world, the absence of a shared understanding or common values has exacerbated the complexities of our times.
He expressed his concerns about the prevailing disharmony and heightened stress levels in the world, attributing a significant portion of this strain to the United States. Sachs remarked, “I put a lot of responsibility for that stress on my own country, on the United States, which still has a mentality as we heard of hegemony or global preeminence or dominance in a world, in which that is neither feasible nor desirable.”
Sachs highlighted the overarching goal of the Nishan Forum—to promote a deeper understanding of the world and cultivate genuinely effective common values. He proposed drawing inspiration from the timeless wisdom of ancient philosophers, such as Confucius, Aristotle, and Buddha, who espoused values that can serve as the foundation for unity and global cooperation.
“Let us take our stand here in this assembly of nations. And let us see if we in our time can move the world to a just and lasting peace. This is what the Nisha Forum is making possible,” Sachs passionately asserted, encapsulating the forum’s noble aspiration.
The Nishan Forum on World Civilizations, which had its inception in 2010, has convened eight times previously and has earned recognition as a distinguished platform for fostering cultural exchange, intellectual discourse, and the pursuit of shared values across civilizations. Each iteration of the forum contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the future of humanity and the imperative of unity in addressing the myriad challenges confronting the world today.
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