Ding Jianyuan, head of the Shandong Friendship Publishing House, and Marcin Palys, headmaster of the University of Warsaw, at the Nishan Room opening ceremony on July 3.[Photos by Liu Yuwu/chinadaily.com.cn]

Jiang Tiejun, executive vice-president of the Shandong International Cultural Association, presents a Confucius bust and calligraphy to Dezs Tamas, director of the Arts College at Etvs Lorand University in Hungary.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Some 2,500 years ago, Confucius traveled around China to spread his teachings. If the great thinker were alive today, he would be delighted to see his philosophy has reached far beyond his home in Shandong to influence young people around the world.

Efforts by his real and intellectual descendants continue in modern times as a delegation from the Shandong International Cultural Association and Shandong provincial government information office visited Poland, Hungary and Greece from July 2 to 11 to promote cultural exchanges.

In Poland, the delegation set up a Nishan Room at the University of Warsaw on July 3.

Confucius is believed to have been born on Nishan Mountain in Qufu, Shandong province. Today reading rooms of the same name serve as places where students can read hundreds of books about Chinese culture donated by the Shandong Friendship Publishing House.

"Confucius born 2,500 years ago has great influence on enriching world civilization," said Marcin Palys, headmaster of the University of Warsaw.

"We will use the Nishan Room to promote cultural exchanges with China."

The outreach to Europe followed the Third Nishan Forum on World Civilizations that was held in Jinan, capital city of Shandong province, in May. With the theme "common human ethics amid different beliefs", it attracted 130 experts and academics in philosophy, theology and cultural studies from around the world.

In Confucian teaching, there is no isolated being, so people's lives are filled with relationships. That sense of interaction fosters tolerance, generosity and respect, which can help people overcome hostility toward others, Fred Dallmayr, a professor from the University of Notre Dame in the US and co-chair of the World Public Forum, said at the Nishan Forum.

By 2015, 153 Nishan Academies are expected to be built across Shandong province.

In Hungary, a Confucius bust was placed at Etvs Lornd University on July 4.

Standing almost a meter high, it sits on a marble base with the inscription "Confucius (551 BC-479 BC), great philosopher, educator and the founder of Confucianism in ancient China" carved in both Chinese and English.

Dezs Tamas, director of the Arts College at the university, said members of the college council voted to accept the Confucius bust as one of the few statues in the university.

An exhibition that displayed some 200 photos of the province's beautiful scenery was also held at the university.

As well, an agreement between Qilu Film and Media Co Ltd and a noted local film company was reached to make a documentary on the friendship between Hungary and China. In Greece, a cooperation protocol on tourism and cultural exchanges was inked between Zakynthos and Shandong on July 6.

The Shandong delegation presented a Confucius bust to Zakynthos city hall that will be on public display permanently.

A talk on culture and comparisons between Confucius and Greek sages Socrates and Plato was held between the Shandong delegation and representatives of Greek projects at UNESCO and the National Historical Museum of Greece. More dialog on Confucian and Socratic civilization will be organized in the future, said officials.

The visiting delegation also had talks in Zakynthos on tourism, agriculture, business and hospitality trade.

Qilu Film and Media Co Ltd signed a similar agreement with the Greek tourism association to make a documentary about the friendship between China and Greece. It will also cooperate with a local television station to make a scenic film about Shandong and Greece.

By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily Europe)

Contact the writer at [email protected]