Following the speech, WEIB Director Tu Weiming and GMM Chief Executive Officer Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. This agreement affirmed that the two organizations will sincerely cooperate in various activities that seek to strengthen cultural and ethical exchange between China and Malaysia, and in doing so hope to greatly influence both of the two nations.
The next day, January 11, there was the first event held by both the Global Movement of Moderates Foundation and local Malaysian Chinese groups. Director Tu gave the keynote speech in the auditorium of Kuala Lumpur's Chinese Language Elementary School. The topic was “Doctrine of the Mean: Theory and Practice in the Context of Multicultural Networks.” Professor Tu Weiming pointed out that over the last one hundred years or so Chinese culture has encountered challenges and humiliations, but said “should we not look to the future in considering how Chinese people should maintain our ancient traditions, and resolve and dissolve the hundred years of tragic history by strengthening the Confucian spirit of benevolence in our engagement with the world? Simultaneously, how different ethnic groups can cooperate, coordinate, and build understanding should also become a key focus for cultural endeavors.” Because of this, in the future China must be open-minded pluralists, and he said, “From the perspective of the present, our entire human race is undergoing a significant period of development. What we do in particular regions are not in fact just regionally important, but undoubtedly have a global significance.” Thus, the value of Chinese culture should set from the high vantage point of the entire globe. Thus, we must develop a spiritual humanism to generate a positive impact on all 21st century humanity. Furthermore, this new humanism is one that respects religious plurality and understands the different civilizations of the world. “We should begin to identify with a new culture, and first thing we must include in this identity is liberal and not conservative perspective. Second, it should be pluralistic, understanding different perspectives and not just one. Third, it should have the capability to be self reflective because without this any wishful thinking that completely emerges from subjective desires will result in our imposing our perspectives on others.” This speech drew over three-hundred people who were interested in Confucian culture. Tan Khai Hee, the Secretary General of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, gave concluding remarks and noted that Prof. Tu's lecture on Chinese education and Confucian culture in Malaysia has practical value and accorded with the meaning of friendly exchange between Malaysia and China that has existed for the last forty years. Other speaker on this occasion included: The President of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association Dato' Abdul Majid Bin Ahmad Khan, and former Chairman of People's Movement Party Dr. Koh Tsu Koon.
During his time in Malaysia, on the afternoon of January 10th, Professor Tu also participated in the 27th Conference of the Academy of Latinity, and delivered the keynote address entitled: “Spiritual Humanism in the Age of Cultural Diversity and Religious Pluralism.”
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