The 6th International Daoism Forum concluded on November 6 in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province.
Under the theme “Cultivating Virtue Through the Dao, Fostering Harmony Under Heaven,” participants engaged in in-depth dialogue and exchanges on five topics, including “Daoist Culture’s Contemporary Value,” “Daoist Culture’s Global Transmission,” “Daoism and Technological Development,” “Daoist Culture and Healthy Living,” and “Cultivating Daoist Talent.” They explored the core teachings of Daoism and expounded on their contemporary intellectual value, aiming to build consensus and pool strength to address global challenges.
The closing ceremony
A representative of China’s National Religious Affairs Administration said that, through dialogue and exchanges, the forum had enabled participants to jointly explore ideas and values in Daoist culture that are compatible with the development of contemporary society, and to discuss the role Daoism should play in the course of global development. These exchanges had further stimulated Daoism’s inherent vitality in keeping pace with the times and benefiting all living beings. It is hoped that the successful convening of the forum will further enhance the World Federation of Daoism’s role as a bridge and link, enrich the forms and channels of exchanges among civilizations, and foster greater mutual understanding, closer bonds and people-to-people connectivity among people around the world. The ideas and consensus forged at this International Daoism Forum should be brought to communities around the world. By keeping abreast of the trends of the times and putting the Great Dao into practice in human society, the Daoist communities should promote Daoism’s aspirations for peace and harmony, and work together to shape a new form of human civilization characterized by harmonious coexistence and the pursuit of the highest good. These efforts will help make the world more peaceful and stable and bring greater health, well-being and happiness to people everywhere.
The Declaration of the 6th International Daoism Forum is read out at the closing ceremony
Yu Zongshi, vice president of the Daoist Association of China, and Fabrice Jordan, president of the Daoist Association of Switzerland, read aloud the forum’s outcome, the Declaration of the 6th International Daoism Forum, in Chinese and English, respectively. The declaration calls for practicing frugality and rejecting extravagance, staying true to one’s original aspirations, upholding the tradition of spiritual cultivation, avoiding ostentation and waste, and adhering to right faith and right practice; promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, building bridges for equal dialogue among different faiths and cultures, and strengthening people-to-people ties under the Belt and Road Initiative; responding wisely to technological challenges, promoting the ethical development of technology for the benefit of all, and ensuring that digital civilization develops in harmony with ethical values; drawing on the Daoist wisdom of cultivating both one’s inner nature and life essence and achieving harmony of body and spirit to enhance human health and well-being, and translating the spirit of helping the world and benefiting others into concrete actions to care for all living beings and assist those in need; and cultivating well-rounded talent with religious knowledge, an international outlook and cross-cultural communication skills, and encouraging their active participation in global dialogue among civilizations and efforts to promote peace. It also calls on Daoists around the world and people from all walks of life to put into practice the spirit of “Cultivating Virtue Through the Dao, Fostering Harmony Under Heaven” and work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.
The 6th International Daoism Forum was held in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, from November 4 to 7, bringing together around 500 Daoist representatives, experts and scholars from 46 countries and regions. The forum featured an opening ceremony, a closing ceremony, a main forum, sub-forums, an Exhibition of Treasured Daoist Classics and a Blessing Ceremony. The World Federation of Daoism also held its 2nd General Assembly during the forum.
Editor：Bella Wu
