Under the auspices of the International Committee of Historical Sciences (ICHS thereafter), the seminar "Regional Culture and Qilu Civilization" and the conference of the Bureau of ICHS, organized by the Association of Chinese historians (thereafter AHC) and Shandong University, took place in Shandong Hotel and Shandong University from 21 to 25 October, 2013. This meeting is in compliance with the conventions of ICHS, which is a preparatory meeting for the organization of the 22^nd International Congress of Historical Sciences in 2015 in Jinan. The conference of the Bureau of ICHS is held every two years. This is the first meeting which has been held in China.

        On the morning of October 22, 2013, the seminar "Regional Culture and Qilu Civilization" was opened in Shandong Hotel. Professor Chen Yan, Vice President of Shandong University gave his opening speech, welcomed experts, researchers and participants at home and from abroad and expressed the confidence in the organization of the 22^nd International Congress of Historical Sciences in 2015. Professor Marjatta Hietala, President ICHS said: "The International Committee of Historical Sciences has always been a platform for academic debate and a forum for the exchange of new research methods and perspectives", "For years, we are always committed to the transformation of European seminar to a global association of historians. I am convinced that in 2015, on the occasion of the 22^nd International Congress of Historical Sciences, this object will be accomplished." In addition, Professor Marjatta Hietala also mentioned the visit to Shandong University in 2011 and her interest of the Chinese Confucian culture, and gave an overview on the situation of ICHS. Mr. Zhang Haipeng, president of the AHC and professor emeritus of first category, presented the location and preparations for the 22^nd International Congress of Historical Sciences (Jinan) and was fully confident in the organization of this conference by the Shandong  University. This seminar was chaired by Professor Fang Hui, Director of the School of History and Cultures of Shandong University.

The meeting also gathered general secretary of ICHS, Robert Frank(1^st University of Paris), CFO, Laurent Tissot (University of Neuchâtel) and members of the Bureau of the ICHS Karen Offen (Stanford University) Pascal Cauchy (Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris), Michael Bibikov (Russian Academy of Sciences) , LIM , Jie-Hyun (Hanyang University), Tao Wenzhao (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), a well-known University of London, Professor Tiedemann (Gerhard Rolf Tiedemann, Professor Emeritus of First Category of Shandong University), Professor Wang Yuji, President of the Society for Historical Studies of Shandong Province, and Professor Wang Jianlang , Secretary General of the AHC; historians from universities at home and abroad , such as Nankai University, Sichuan University, Shanghai University, and Central China Normal University; Wei Jian, Institute of Fine Arts of Shandong and the Director of the Humanity and Social Sciences, and Mr. Zhang Xinping, Deputy Minister of the Department of Communication of the Party Committee; Professor Zhao Aiguo Secretary of the Party  Committee of the School of History and Cultures of Shandong University, and teachers and students from Shandong University.

This meeting was not only a academically quality seminar on traditional culture and the civilization in Shandong, but also communication on nation-level which enabled overseas historians to have a better understanding of Shandong culture. During this meeting, Professor Tiedeman, who was from University of London, Professor Sun Weiguo from Nankai University, Professor Jiang Sheng from Sichuan University, Professor Tao Feiya of Shanghai University, Professor Liu Jiafeng normal University of East China and Prof. Fu Youde of Shandong University took speech in English . Professors Chen Shangsheng, Liu Xinli, Zhao Jie, Hu Weiqing of Shandong University, Professor Tao Feiya of Shanghai University and Professor Zhang Congjun University of Art and Design Shandong respectively given their comments. These six extensive reviews provided new perspectives and profound academic insight. The atmosphere was lively and so discussions. The participation of the Bureau of the International Academy of the History of Sciences and members of the Chinese Academy of History has significantly increased international influence of this meeting.

Another important event was the bureau meeting held every two years by the International Committee of Historical Sciences. It was held to discuss and arrange the preparations for the 2015 Conference. Thus, on the evening of 21 October, Du Jidong, the President of the Chinese Academy of History, Wanrong Yang, Deputy Chairman, Professor Fang Hui, Dean of the School of History and Culture of Shandong University, Deputy Chairman Yang Jiashen, assistant professor Sun Yiping , Dr. Cui Huajie attended the preparatory meeting to discuss details of the conference. Two internal meetings of the Executive Committee of the International Academy of the History were given on the evening of October 21 and the afternoon of 22 October. One of 12 executive members was Mr. Tao Wenzhao, who was Fellow at the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the president of Academia of History of Sino-US relations.

On the morning of October 23, the meeting between members of the Bureau of the International Committee of Historical Sciences, Association of Chinese Historians and Shandong University was held in Shandong University. Deputy Chairman of the School of History and Culture Mr. Yang Jiashen chaired this meeting.

First, the President of the International Committee of Historical Sciences Marjatta Hietala made ​​a brief presentation on the cultural exchange between China and Western countries for millennia. She also talked about the evolution of the themes of the International Congresses of Historical Sciences from 1995 to the 22nd Meeting to be held in 2015, in Jinan, Shandong Province, and she stressed the importance of the conference in Jinan. She enjoyed Confucianism, she said, and considered the important carrier of the internationalization of Chinese culture. President of the School of History and Culture gave a report to the International Committee of Historical Sciences and the Association of Chinese Historians on preparations for the 22nd International Congress of History Sciences. Extensive discussions were opened on the Committee responsible for organizing the Agenda of the Congress, the arrangement of the place, the languages ​​used, the cost of registration, business visa, communications, medical services, IT construction and other arrangements. The Bureau of the International Committee of Historical Sciences gave helpful advice to the preparation. Thus, the participants of this meeting reached agreement on these issues:

According Marjatta Hietala, this meeting turned out well constructive. Issues had been clarified, opinions exchanged, and the agreement reached. Robert Frank confirmed in his speech that when Jinan was chosen as the host city of the Assembly in 2015, at the 21st International Congress of Historical Sciences, he was disappointed in the two interviews in 2011; yet the meeting changed convinced him that the 22nd International Congress of Historical Sciences in 2015 organized by Shandong University would win a great success.

Finally, Zhang Haipeng, Director of the 22^nd International Congress of Historical Sciences (ICHS) concluded that "I fully agree with Mr. Frank, Secretary General, to the fact that globalization does not equal to Westernization. In 1919, Chinese intellectuals with the rudiments of communist ideology that sparked the May 4 movement (an anti-imperialist-and-feudal movement) lambasted Confucianism. Today, it has become an integral part of traditional Chinese culture. It is we who take responsibility for the inheritance. Shandong is the hometown of Confucius and Mencius. Thus Jinan is the most appropriate city to host the 22nd International Congress of Historical Sciences. Through the interviews, we obtain a coherent understanding of many problems regarding the 2015 convention," said Mr. Zhang, “The arrival of ICHS members played a supervisory role in our preparations. We focus on every detail in the preparatory work.”

After the meeting, Mr. Frank, Secretary General of the Congress spoke highly of the effective preparation for the Conference. According to him, the progress made ​​was better than in previous sessions during the same period. Back in Paris, he sent an e -mail to Vice President Yang Jiashen saying that “I express my sincere thanks for your warm welcome during maintenance in Jinan.” He was so successful that the members of the Executive Board expressed satisfaction with the work of this conference and the expectations of the success of the Congress in 2015.

The venue of the congress of 2015 was a common interest of all. On the afternoon of 23, after inspecting Shandong University, participants visited Shandong Hotel, Shungeng Hotel and Nanjiao Hotel. The 24 members of the Bureau of the ICHS also paid a visit to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius.

On October 25, after completing the third conference, members of the Bureau, who had come from all over the world to meet in China, returned to their own countries.

Founded in 1900, the International Congress of Historical Science is held once every five years. It is known as the "Olympics of historians". 21 previous congresses were held in European and American countries. In August 2010, representatives of Association of Chinese Historians and Shandong University attended the 21st Congress in Amsterdam. A proposal that the 22nd Congress be held in Jinan was adopted. The conference is sponsored by the ICHS and organized by the Association of Chinese Historians and Shandong University. In May 2012, the Bureau decided that the duration of the 22nd International Congress of Historical Sciences will run from August 23 to 29, 2015. Thousands of Chinese and foreign historians will gather in Jinan to share this grand event. This cultural event certainly will influence both deep and lasting on strengthening China's cultural power, improving the international image of China, the deeper understanding of China as well as promoting the development of history and social sciences.

Zhang Yekai,

School of History and Culture,

Shandong University

November 27, 2013