A forum on Confucius culture began on Wednesday in the city of Qufu in east China's Shandong Province, the birthplace of the prominent Chinese philosopher.

The Nishan Forum on World Civilizations, the ninth since its inception in 2010, has attracted 330 foreign guests, including politicians, representatives from international organizations, diplomats, experts and scholars.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the event, Shohrat Zakir, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, China's national legislature, said that the Global Civilization Initiative is a significant guideline for the development and progress of human civilizations, injecting a powerful impetus into the modernization process of human society.

In the face of unprecedented changes in today's world, equal exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations will provide a strong spiritual guide for addressing contemporary challenges and achieving common development, Shohrat Zakir said.

He stressed the importance of respecting the diversity of human civilizations, actively upholding its progressiveness, promoting its inclusiveness, and vigorously advocating for the common values of humanity to build a global community of shared future and create a better world.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said the Nishan Forum shares the same objective with Olympics, which is deepening the understanding among the civilizations of the world through respectful dialogue and exchange.

For the first time, this year's forum held a sub-forum on cultural relics, attracting over 70 participants, including domestic and international museum experts, well-known museum directors, and representatives from national museums.

The participants said museums are places where historical memories are stored, and are important places and bridges for international cultural exchanges.

The forum will conclude on Thursday.

(With input from Xinhua)