The Forum CHINA global was established at the University of Cologne in 2017, originally as part of the German Excellence Initiative, involving the Universities of Cologne, Fudan, Xiamen and Nottingham-Ningbo. 

The Form's research team believes that a Chinese-centered globalization will bring a different normative perspective to the world, one that has historical and philosophical roots in a Chinese world view of center and margins, in Chinese notions of justice, fair exchange and moral values, and in the particular Chinese experiences of modernity and models of development from the 19^th century onwards. 

In short, we believe that Chinese globalization will globalize or universalize values, ideas and practices particular to a Chinese perspective to the world. In order to better understand the prospects of a China-centered globalization, we need to explore these ideas, values, and practices from a historical, philosophical, sociological and anthropological perspective.