By He Yin, People’s Daily
On June 9, the second World Conference of Classics opened in Athens, Greece, convening top scholars from around 20 countries under the theme “Dialogue Between Ancient and Modern: Contemporary Inspiration from Classical Wisdom.”
Participants are drawing upon the intellectual legacy of ancient civilizations to seek insights from the wisdom of classical sages and build consensus for addressing today’s global challenges.
From Beijing to Athens, China and Greece have jointly hosted two editions of the conference, creating a bridge for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and encouraging scholars from around the world to engage in dialogue at the very roots of human civilization. Its significance stretches far beyond academia.
In a congratulatory letter to the inaugural World Conference of Classics in 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that ancient civilizations flourished, laying the foundation for the development of human civilization. Guided by this vision, the conference has continued to unlock the contemporary value of classical wisdom, building a platform that connects past and present, China and the wider world.
As two of the most important sources of Eastern and Western classical civilizations, China and Greece have both made remarkable contributions to human progress through extraordinary cultural achievements, leaving legacies that still resonate today.
From the philosophical insights of Laozi, Confucius, and Mencius in the East to the intellectual inquiries of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in the West, ancient thinkers explored enduring questions of human nature, governance, and social relations — questions that remain deeply relevant in the 21st century.
By drawing deeper on the shared values, worldviews, cosmologies, philosophies of life, scientific outlooks, and cultural traditions embedded in these two civilizations, humanity gains valuable intellectual resources to address shared challenges and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Preserving civilization and deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges have long been priorities for China. The enduring wisdom of Chinese civilization, including harmony without uniformity, peaceful coexistence among nations, people-centered governance, reform and innovation, harmony with nature — continue to offer inspiration for answering the questions of the times and the challenges facing the world.
An increasing number of Chinese and international scholars have called for integrating Chinese classical studies more fully into the global academic landscape and jointly building a broader framework of “greater classics” studies.
China has proposed and actively implemented the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating dialogue over division, exchange over estrangement, and cooperation over confrontation, while working to advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity through stronger civilizational exchanges.
The world today is undergoing profound transformation. Geopolitical conflicts, climate change, the digital divide, and questions surrounding technology ethics are intersecting and intensifying.
Against this backdrop, the conference has organized four parallel forums addressing topics such as modern interpretations of classical education, ethical communities in the transition from ancient to modern times, civilizational solutions to the shifting global landscape, and humanism in the age of digital intelligence. These discussions directly engage some of the most pressing issues of our time.
The conference makes clear that classical studies, while rooted in antiquity, are firmly focused on humanity’s present and future. In the view of many participants, the conference not only advances scholarship in classical studies but, more importantly, highlights the possibility of equal dialogue and the shared foundations of mutual understanding.
As Roger T. Ames, vice president of the International Confucian Association, observed, zero-sum thinking continues to permeate international relations today. What is needed instead is deeper civilizational dialogue that explores shared values, uncovers common historical memories, and respects the unique contributions of diverse civilizations.
Mutual learning among civilizations has long defined China-Greece relations, with remarkable progress in cultural cooperation.
The two nations have set up the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations and launched the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens. Scholars from both nations have delved into the shared values between Confucian ethics and ancient Greek philosophy.
The Angelokastro archaeological project, their maiden joint archaeological program, has officially kicked off. Wonderful productions combining Chinese and Greek arts took the stage at the Sino-Hellenic International Theater Festival.
Ancient Greek cultural relics have also been showcased in special exhibitions at the Palace Museum and the Sanxingdui Museum in China. All these efforts have enabled China and Greece to steadily broaden and deepen civilizational interactions.
Through interaction and mutual enrichment, these two ancient civilizations have found renewed vitality while setting an example for civilizations around the world to engage with one another as equals and advance together.
As Nikiforos Diamandouros, president of the Academy of Athens, noted: “China-Greece cooperation reminds us that great civilizations do not compete with one another; rather, they shape the future together through dialogue, the exchange of knowledge, and mutual respect.”
To understand the past is to illuminate the present and chart a course for the future. The history of human civilization has repeatedly demonstrated that only through inclusiveness, openness, and mutual respect can civilizations thrive and endure.
China stands ready to work with all countries to draw wisdom and strength from the world’s diverse ancient civilizations, letting the light of classical wisdom guide humanity forward. Together, countries can address global challenges and sustain the progress of human civilization.
Let light of classical wisdom illuminate humanity’s path forward
