“International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations 2026” opens in Macao next Monday (9 November) reflecting historical depth and confronting the frontier challenges of the digital age

The Member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of Research Centre for Macao History of the Chinese Academy of History, Li Guoqiang

The “International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations 2026” will be inaugurated on 9 November in Macao. Under the core theme “Mutual Learning among Civilizations, Inheritance and Development”, the two-day Forum (9 and 10 November) will feature nearly 40 thematic sessions and academic exchange sessions conducted by nearly 300 representatives from government departments, international organizations, leading experts and scholars from over 20 countries worldwide.

Presented by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, with the academic support of the Chinese Academy of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, this year’s Forum features the “Keynote Speech”, “Sub-forums” and “Academic Salons”. In the Keynote Session, a total of seven internationally renowned cultural experts, including the member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Feng Shi; the Director of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko and Senior Research Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities of the Sun Yat-sen University, Hamashita Takeshi; the Director of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World and Professor of the School of Governance and Policy at the University of Hong Kong, Li Cheng; the President of Minzu University of China, Qiang Shigong; the Dean of the School of Public Policy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Zheng Yongnian; the Executive Vice President of the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau, Mok Ian Ian; and the Professor of Ancient History of the Department of Classics of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of King’s College London, United Kingdom, Hugh Bowden, who will explore the contemporary value of inheritance and cultural exchange among civilizations from multiple perspectives.

The Forum comprises “Sub-forums” and “Academic Salons”, with themes reflecting historical depth and directly confronting the frontier challenges of the digital age:the “Sub-forum I: Cross-disciplinary Cultural Dialogue”, organized by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, co-organized by the Research Centre for Macao History of the Chinese Academy of History,will be moderated by the Member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of Research Centre for Macao History of the Chinese Academy of History, Li Guoqiang, and the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Macao Polytechnic University, Lam Fat Iam, featuring two academic salons on the themes “Silk Road Continues: From the Ancient Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative” and “East Meets West: From Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning to Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”; “Sub-forum II: “Cultural Connections between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries”,organized by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, co-organized by Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of the Renmin University of China, will be moderated by the Vice President of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Foundation, Zhong Yi Seabra de Mascarenhas, and the Director of the Chinese-Portuguese Bilingual Teaching and Training Centre and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau, Giorgio Sinedino, featuring two academic salons on the themes “Maritime Silk Road and the History and Future of Sino-Portuguese Civilization Exchange” and “China and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries Advance the Implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative”.

The “Sub-forum III: The Glory of Civilizations in the AI Era”, organized by the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, co-organized by the School of Journalism and Communication of the Tsinghua University, will feature four academic salons on the themes “Global AI Governance and the Responsibilities of Major Powers”, “Development of the Artificial Intelligence Industry”, “Artificial Intelligence and Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilisations” and “Artificial Intelligence and Human Values”, moderated by the Associate Dean of the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China; Director of Institute of International Affairs, Wang Yiwei; the Director of Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office of the University of Macau, Zhou Jiantao; the Director of the Epstein Center for Global Media and Communication of the Tsinghua University and Editor-in-Chief of “Global Journal of Media Studies”, Shi Anbin; the Director of the China Institute for Development Planning of the Tsinghua University and Tenured Professor of the School of Public Policy and Management of the Tsinghua University, Yang Yongheng, who will share their insights.

The “International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations”, held once again, serves as an important measure for Macao to actively align itself with the national cultural development strategy and implement the global civilization initiative. Leveraging Macao’s role as “a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist”, the Forum invites renowned scholars from around the world for in-depth dialogue, which not only expands Macao’s cooperative network for regular international academic exchange, but also fully demonstrates Macao’s unique role in promoting exchange and mutual learning between the Chinese and Western civilizations and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Forum Program