On October 21st, Research Symposium on the The fifth anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inspection to Shandong (Qufu) was held in the central campus of Shangdong university. Zhang Zheng, editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily, Guan Zhiou, member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda Department, Guo Xinli, Party Secretary of Shandong University, Shang Zhixiao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong Normal University, Zhang Yongbing, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong University, Sang Xiaomin, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda Department of Shandong University,, Zhao Qiuli, director of the Guangming Daily’s reporter station in Shandong, attended the symposium. The meeting was presided over by Kong Fanke, head of the lecturer group of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. 

Guo Xinli said in his speech that on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s inspection of Shandong Qufu, Guangming Daily and the relevant leaders of Shandong Province attended the research symposium at Shandong University. It not only embodies the full affirmation of the leaders for the implementation of the spirit of the important speech of the General Secretary of Shandong University, but also will greatly promote Shandong University to continue to carry out the work of inheriting and innovating the outstanding traditional Chinese culture. He introduced the history, development achievements and the tradition of “prominent subjects in literature and history” of Shandong University, especially the series of practices in which Shandong University serve the development strategy of national culture, promote excellent traditional culture, and create a highland for the study of Confucianism. He said that at the 14th Party Congress of the University, it was clearly stated that it is necessary to highlight cultural leadership and focus on building the most representative universities that inherit and innovate Chinese traditional culture. The university will further study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, conscientiously implement the decision-making arrangements of the Central Committee and the Shandong Provincial Committee on promoting outstanding traditional culture and the building of core socialist value system, adhere to creative transformation and innovative development, make good use of Qilu cultural resources, deepen research and interpretation, promote cultural communication, and strive to make greater progress and achieve greater breakthroughs in the most representative universities that inherit and innovate Chinese excellent traditional culture. 

Zhang Yongbing reviewed the close cooperation between Shandong University and Guangming Daily in recent years. He reported on the work of university propaganda and ideology from three aspects: Arming the mind, guiding practice, and promoting work with Xi Jinping’s thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, Constantly consolidate and expand the mainstream of public opinion, Making efforts to create a common spiritual home for the people of Shandong University. He introduced the key tasks of the recent publicity work. He said that the university will strengthen publicity on strong schools of talents, academic development, service to Shandong, cultural leadership, construction of Marxist theoretical disciplines, and training of Marxist talents. It is hoped that Guangming Daily will further support Shandong University to do well in the promotion of the six major strategies, do a good job in the construction of teachers' morality, support the training of outstanding journalism and communication talents, and support the Confucius Institute's research and the development of high-end forum of think tank. Subsequently, Professor Ning Jiming, Director of the Research Center of the Confucius Institute at Shandong University and Director of the Chinese Traditional Culture Research and Experience Base of the Hanban/Shandong University, reported on the Confucius Institute Research and the preparations for Construction high-end forum of think tank, and the construction, planning and practice of the Confucius Institute Cultural Experience Base (Qufu).

At the symposium, experts and scholars focused on the "four clear explanations", which was put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping when he inspected Qufu, and discussed the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture from the aspects of ideological power and practical value. Prof. Shang Zhixiao, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong Normal University, analyzed the progress and shortcomings in carrying forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture and important work in research interpretation. He believed that the key to promoting and inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture is to make the past serve the present, to enter life, and to exchange ideas with other cultures. Professor Wang Xuedian, member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee,            Executive Vice-Dean, Institute of Confucianism, Shandong University, Editor-in-chief of Literature, History and Philosophy, deeply analyzed the inter-generational significance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspection of Qufu in the history of ideology and culture. He believed that this is the end of the anti-traditional cultural tendency that has dominated the mainstream of society for a century. This indicates that China is getting rid of Western centralism and developing a higher level of ideological and cultural Chineseization. Researcher Tu Keguo, director of the Institute of Cultural Studies of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, talked about his views in many aspects. For example, to strengthen the creative reality and construction of traditional cultural theories, to create new forms and new paradigms, to use modern media, to dig deep into resources, to strengthen dialogue between different cultures and civilizations, to sort out anti-traditional cultures, to inherit and spread traditional culture in all directions, to spread traditional culture from the discipline level. Professor Yan Binggang, deputy Dean of the Institute of Advanced Studies of Confucianism, Shandong University, combining the development of rural Confucianism, talked about the objects and methods of "four clear explanations". He proposed that intellectuals should disseminate the latest research results of Chinese traditional culture in the language and methods familiar to the common people. Researcher Wang Junlin, Qilu Cultural Research Center of Shandong Normal University talked about his understanding of the "four clear explanations" from the perspective of modern Chinese, analyzed the relationship between Chinese traditional culture, Western culture and socialist culture. Prof. Du Zexun, Dean of School of Literature, Shandong University, expounded the tasks of book protection, text compilation, textbook selection, publication of research results, construction of traditional cultural think tanks, and training of Chinese classical academic talents in the inheritance and protection of traditional cultural heritage. Professor Zeng Zhenyu, the Institute of Advanced Studies of Confucianism, talked about the understanding of the "Chinese Road" by combining the socialism with Chinese characteristics and the traditional culture of Confucianism, and proposed the idea of fully exerting the cultural value of Qufu and building it into a cultural special zone in China.

In the concluding remarks, Zhang Zheng said that on October 21, 1977, the major media announced the resumption of the college entrance examination. At the meeting point of the  fifth anniversary of Xi Jinping’s inspection of Qufu and the 41st anniversary of the resumption of the national college entrance examination, focusing on the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on the "four clear explanations" of Chinese traditional culture, experts and scholars discussed how to promote the "double creations" of Chinese traditional culture and its publicity and implementation, which has a profound historical significance. He said that in the past five years, the Shandong Provincial Party Committee has thoroughly implemented the spirit of the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping, vigorously promoted the spirit of the speech to take root in Shandong and achieved remarkable results. He thanked the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee for their efforts in implementing the spirit of the speech. He thanked experts and scholars for their trust and love for Guangming Daily and expressed that they would turn this gratitude and affection into practical action. Through the convening of the fifth anniversary seminar, etc., Guangming Daily will further deepen the propaganda of the spirit of the General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech. Zhang Zheng said that Guangming Daily has great potential for cooperation with Shandong Province and Shandong University in traditional cultural leadership. In the future, we will carry out in-depth cooperation on more levels. Guangming Daily will strive to support Shandong University in doing relevant work well and help university improve their influence and reputation.

Before the symposium, Zhang Zheng and others visited the History Museum of Shandong University and the Chinese Traditional Culture Research and Experience Base. At the history museum, Zhang Zheng praised the school's commitment to building a world-class university at the beginning of its establishment and the achievements of cultivating talents for the country in the past 100 years. He proposed the connection between the school motto of Yamada and the concept of traditional culture. At the Chinese traditional culture research and experience base, Zhang Zheng learned about the integration of traditional culture and life, the times, and the international, watched the display of Chinese traditional culture learning which was showed by international students. He combed the relationship between filial piety, harmony and life from the concept of traditional culture, and proposed the unique value and significance of Chinese traditional culture to the construction of human destiny community. 

Relevant persons from Literature and Art Department, Economic Department, Social Assessment Office of Guangming Daily, Theory Department of Propaganda Department of Shandong Provincial Party Committee, university Office of Shandong University, Propaganda Department, Institute of Advanced Studies of Confucianism, School of International Education, participated in the symposium.