The 9th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations kicked off in Qufu City, east China's Shandong Province, the hometown of Confucius. Under the theme of "Common values for mankind and a community with a shared future for mankind – strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations to jointly address global challenges," the forum will feature a number of activities, including a main forum, high-level dialogues, keynote speeches and more, from September 26 to 28.

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach said via video that he has learned a quote from Confucius: "The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential. These are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence."