Quzhou, a city in eastern China and home to southern Confucianism, held an event to promote Confucian culture in Beijing on Friday. It was attended by guests from the Quzhou municipal government, representatives of Confucius' descendants, and foreign envoys from 11 countries. 

“Confucianism is not just relevant to China, but also to the rest of the world,” said Kong Lingli, the 76th generation lineal descendant of Confucius. 

“The core of Confucianism is to cultivate one’s mind, which is the prerequisite of all conduct,” Kong said. He said strengthening family education and integrating Confucianism into family values can help young people to set behavioral principles and promote civility in society.

In recent years, the Southern Confucianism Cultural Development Center in Quzhou has engaged in international communication and cooperation through various platforms, and invited young Sinologists from many countries to attend a wide range of activities such as the southern Confucianism research camp, according to Sheng Xiongsheng, director of the cultural development center. The center has also participated in cultural exchanges with other countries such as the Republic of Korea and Malaysia.

Sheng said that, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic abated and control measures eased, the center will further cooperate with the International Confucian Association and fully leverage Quzhou's role as the southern Confucianism research base to conduct international exchange.

Confucianism has been woven into the fabric of the city and become a part of the city’s development, Sheng added.

“I think Quzhou needs to be more popular,” said Shadi Abuzarqa, minister counselor of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in China. “It's very important to transfer this culture to other countries to know more about this good culture.”