Academics specializing in six ancient civilizations will meet in the hometown of the philosopher Confucius in east China's Shandong province in May during the second Nishan Forum, organizers said Monday.

Experts on the Egyptian, Babylon, Indian, Chinese, Greek and Mayan civilizations will attend a forum held in the city of Qufu from May 21 to 23, according to Xie Zhixiu, deputy chief of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and one of the forum's organizers.

The Nishan Forum on World Civilizations, dedicated to promoting dialogue among civilizations, opens on the same day as the "World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development," which will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the event, Xie said.

A total of 136 people, including officials and scholars from 22 countries and regions, are expected to attend the forum, Xie said.

The second forum aims to strengthen cultural exchanges and produce a consensus on protecting cultural heritage, Xie said.

The forum, named after Ninshan Mountain, where Confucius is believed to have been born, was initiated by Xu Jialu, a former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.