The 1st Nishan World Forum on Culture of Confucian Entrepreneurs was held in Qufu on September 26, bringing together entrepreneurs, experts and scholars, as well as descendents of Confucius online and offline, to have a discussion under the theme of "Value of Times for Confucian Entrepreneurs and Construction of Modern Business Civilization".

A scene of the 1st Nishan World Forum on Culture of Confucian Entrepreneurs

As a key cradle of Confucianism and an important place of inheritance for Confucian business culture, Shandong boasts a long tradition of innovation, entrepreneurship and creation. For example, Haier, one of Fortune Global 500 companies, created the model of "Rendanheyi" (unity of employee and user) to lead the ecological development of IoT.

Zhou Yunjie, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Haier Group, delivered a keynote speech. He said Haier would empower various industries via its COSMOPlat industrial Internet platform while evolving into a digital enterprise.

Similarly, Fotile Group, positively influenced by Confucian culture, has developed into a leading kitchen appliance manufacturer. Thanks to the cultural management model integrating Chinese and western elements, Fotile achieved sales of more than 15.5 billion yuan in 2021 to secure its lead in the kitchen appliance industry, according to Mao Zhongqun, Chairman and President of Fotile.

Investment promotion was conducted during the forum, to show the world the National Cultural Export Base in Jinan Area of China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Boshan National Cultural Export Base in Zibo and other cultural trade highlands, and present Shandong's brilliant achievements in international cultural trade.