Confucianism is certainly an antique culture with deep and secure roots, but it is also a living, vibrant tradition that requires of each of us our full participation and contribution: 人能弘道非道弘人。
儒家思想发源山东，曲阜为策源地，堪称儒家之"耶路撒冷"圣地。而今天，儒家思想所到之处，其影响、其责任，已延伸至全球，成为整个人类共享的文化资源。我们在当今，须笃行《大学》倡导：修身、齐家、治国、平天下。
Confucianism began in Shandong, and Qufu is indeed the source-we might say the Jerusalem-of Confucianism. But today the reach,the influence, and indeed the responsibility of Confucianism has become global as a cultural resource for humanity as a whole. In our time we need to follow the Daxue's exhortation to commit ourselves to the Confucian project of xiushen修身, qijia齊家, zhiguo治國-and ultimately-to pingtianxia平天下.
值世界儒学大会开幕之际，在世界承认与拥抱儒家思想国际价值场合，将这份荣誉赋予我，对我，充满深刻意义。我，现生活在一个亟需儒家思想哺育的世界，真诚祝愿：本次大会精心计划的议程，及其在对儒学历史贡献方面，获得圆满成功！
It is significant that this honor is bestowed upon me at the opening ceremony of the World Congress of Confucianism-a meeting that recognizes and embraces the international value of Confucianism. And it is for me living in a world that in our times truly needs Confucianism to wish this august body every success in its careful deliberations and its historic contribution to Confucian scholarship.