Recently, the winners of the 5th Confucian Classics Cross-Language Recitation Conference were announced. BADERTDINOV SALAVAT, a Russian international student from the 2023 intake majoring in Chinese Language and Literature (Business Chinese) at the School of International Education, won the first prize in the International Adult Essay Category for his essay Resonance between Confucius and Tolstoy. Li Yuewei from the School of International Education served as his supervisor. Salavat was also invited to Qufu for the annual exhibition and study tour of the conference.

Written in both Chinese and Russian, Resonance between Confucius and Tolstoy adopts a cross-cultural comparative perspective to establish a dialogue between the two ideological giants across time and space, Confucius and Leo Tolstoy. From a unique overseas viewpoint of an international student, the work interprets Chinese classics, bridges the spiritual connection between Chinese and Russian ideologies and cultures, and expresses the value pursuit of staying true to oneself and pursuing goodness amid complex worldly affairs.

It is reported that the 2026 Confucian Classics Cross-Language Recitation Conference was co-hosted by the Nishan World Confucianism Center, China Confucius Foundation, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, Shandong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Administrative Committee of the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone. As an important cultural brand activity, it promotes China’s fine traditional culture worldwide. The call for submissions launched in December 2025, attracting more than 60,000 Chinese culture enthusiasts from over 60 countries globally, with over 30,000 entries collected.