Confucianism inspires heated dialogue in Chengdu
China DailyA panel discussion is held during the 3rd Oriental Civilization Summit Dialogue in Chengdu, Sichuan province, March 30, 2024. Renowned figures from politics, business and academia gathered on Saturday in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, for the 3rd Oriental Civilization Summit Dialogue, to exchange views on how the world can draw from the wisdom of ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius to build a shared future for mankind. Keynote speakers Chen Xiaoxia, director of the Mencius Research Institute; Herman Van Rompuy, president emeritus of the European Council and former prime minister of Belgium; Supachai Panitchpakdi, former director-general of the World Trade Organization and former deputy prime minister of Thailand; Jeffrey Sachs, a well-known economist at Columbia University; and Meng Liang, founder and chair of the Mencius Foundation delivered speeches at the event. Herman Van Rompuy, president emeritus of the European Council and former prime minister of Belgium Van Rompuy said in his speech that, because of globalization and modernization, different civilizations are more alike than they were in ancient times. The first full-time president of the European Council noted what Confucius said in The Analects — "Within the four seas we are all brothers," echos words in the European Anthem, a melody featuring German poet Friedrich von Schiller's Ode to Joy from 1785.