Scholars and intellectuals from around the world participated in the third Nishan Forum on World Civilizations in Jinan, Shandong province last week. Photos by Wang Qian and Ju Chuanjiang / China Daily

Twenty scholars signed a pledge to foster awareness of human welfare at the third Nishan Forum on World Civilizations that closed on Friday in Jinan, Shandong province.

The gathering is named after Nishan Mountain where Confucius is believed to have been born.

Along with scholars, the pledge was initiated by Xu Jialu, chairman of the forum and vice-chairman of the standing committee of the ninth and 10th National People's Congress, and Hans d'Orville, assistant director-general for strategic planning at UNESCO.

The pledge states that "the goal is to work for common human ethics and morality".

"Ethics and morality are concerned with the respect for other human beings' rights, with the responsibility for the common welfare of local communities, and with the consciousness of responsibilities and duties for the common welfare of human beings," it continues.

The four-day forum that attracted more than 12,000 participants featured 10 dialogs, two speeches, seven academic sessions and two concerts.

"The Nishan Forum shows China is willing to communicate with the other countries in more than just the economic sector," Zhao Qizheng, former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and former minister of the State Council Information Office, said in a closing speech.

In his speech, d'Orville said "the Nishan Forum has gradually gained importance and influence as an international platform for cultural dialog and intellectual exchange".

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