Over 20 years ago, an eight-hour overnight train carried me from Beijing to Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, after a street vendor’s stories of his hometown piqued my curiosity. Today, a high-speed train completes the journey in just two hours — a fitting metaphor for Asia’s rapid modernization, even as it remains anchored in its philosophical and moral heritage.  

As the successful 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations convened in Qufu city, Shandong province from July 9 to 10, it became clear that Confucianism is not a relic of the past, but a vital and vibrant framework for addressing today’s most pressing crises: escalating geopolitical rivalries, economic fragmentation, the ethical dilemmas of artificial intelligence, and the existential threat of climate change.  

Confucianism’s core tenets — harmony (he), benevolence (ren), and propriety (li) — have long shaped East Asia’s sociopolitical resilience. From Singapore’s disciplined governance to Japan’s and the Republic of Korea’s blends of tradition and innovation, these principles have underpinned stability and growth. Yet in a world increasingly dominated by raucous zero-sum geopolitics, short-term nationalism, and cynical transactional diplomacy, Confucian ideals offer a counterbalance — a vision of leadership rooted in moral responsibility, mutual respect, and collective welfare over narrow self-interest.  

In an era of war, global warming, and increasing algorithmic alienation, we must revive the art of listening over lecturing, cooperation over coercion and long-term welfare over short-term gain. The world is moving at the pace of a high-speed train, but Confucius would remind us: True progress is measured not in GDP or AI benchmarks alone, but in ethical and spiritual growth

At this year’s Nishan Forum, scholars like Professor Roger T Ames (University of Hawaii) explored Confucianism’s relevance in his speech, titled Nurturing Understanding among Civilizations for Global Modernization. He reframed the Confucian concept of Tian Xia (“All Under Heaven”) not as a hierarchical order, but as a model for inclusive, cooperative global governance — a stark contrast to today’s escalating US-China tensions, Europe’s inward turn, and the Global South’s struggle for agency.  

Lost art of reciprocity  

Modern conflicts — from trade wars to military brinkmanship — stem from a fundamental breakdown in reciprocity (shu). Confucius’ golden rule, “Do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself”, is antithetical to the punitive tariffs, tech decoupling, and resource hoarding that define today’s global economy.  

The “dragon economies” (China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam) thrived by balancing competition with Confucian-inspired cooperation — prioritizing long-term stability over short-term gains. As Maldives Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef noted in his remarks that true progress comes not from dominance, but from recognizing shared humanity. 

Yet the US’ China policy exemplifies a failure of this ethos. Rather than treating artificial intelligence, high tech chips, and foreign trade as zero-sum battlegrounds, a Confucian approach would emphasize joint stewardship of global challenges — aligning with the philosophy’s emphasis on collective welfare over individual advantage.  

The forum’s most urgent discussions included AI ethics and ecological collapse. British Professor Steve Fuller (University of Warwick) explained how modern AI systems can be utilized to improve human creativity — echoing Confucianism’s ideal that technology must serve moral ends, not erode them.  

Similarly, climate change demands a Confucian ethic of intergenerational responsibility. The philosophy’s reverence for nature (tian) as a moral force aligns with modern sustainability — yet many industrialized nations have long tragically prioritized profit over planetary health. A Confucian lens would reframe climate policy as a sacred duty to future generations, not a burden to be deferred.  

Unlike the bleak “clash of civilizations” narrative, the forward-looking Nishan Forum in Qufu fosters cross-cultural learning. Diplomats and scholars from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Central Asia, East Asia, Africa, the Arab world, and the West gathered not to assert dominance, but to seek shared solutions through mutual respect and dialogue — a Confucian ideal in practice.  

Cambodia’s Senior Minister Chhem Kieth Rethy captured this spirit that modernization must not mean amnesia; wisdom from the past can guide our future. Madagascar’s Ambassador Jean Louis Robinson Richard praised the forum as “a rare space where dialogue replaces diatribe”.  

This is Confucianism’s enduring power — unity without uniformity. In our multipolar world today, no single ideology can claim supremacy — but a global ethic of benevolence, reciprocity, and moral leadership might yet avert catastrophe.  

The path forward 

Returning to Qufu in progressive Shandong province, I was struck by how Confucius’ wise teachings remain both ancient and urgently modern. The Nishan Forum is more than a conference — it is a call to conscience.  

In an era of war, global warming, and increasing algorithmic alienation, we must revive the art of listening over lecturing, cooperation over coercion and long-term welfare over short-term gain. The world is moving at the pace of a high-speed train, but Confucius would remind us: True progress is measured not in GDP or AI benchmarks alone, but in ethical and spiritual growth.  

If leaders embrace these timeless moral principles, this century may yet be defined not by division, but by harmony, shared prosperity, and a planet preserved for generations to come.

The author is an economics and politics analyst, multi-awarded columnist of Philippine Star and Abante newspapers, book author, college teacher and moderator of the Pandesal Forum.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.