Bridging past and present: Global scholars gather in Beijing for 1st World Conference of Classics

The inaugural World Conference of Classics, a significant gathering of global experts in classical studies, commenced on Thursday in Beijing. Four hundred and eighty-five scholars from over 30 countries and regions, including 186 international scholars, attended the conference.

Running from November 6 to 8, the event is co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Ministry of Education of China, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the Ministry of Culture of Greece, and the Academy of Athens.

A key highlight of the conference was the establishment of the China Classical Civilization Research Institute in Athens. Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Lina Mendoni, minister of culture of Greece, exchanged documents to officially establish the institute. Gao's announcement of its formation marks a major milestone in Sino-Greek cultural and academic exchanges.

During the opening ceremony, renowned scholars from Greece, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China shared their insights on various aspects of classical studies, fostering a rich dialogue between different academic traditions.

Before the conference, foreign participants toured the provinces of Shandong, Henan and Sichuan to explore the openness and inclusiveness of the Chinese civilization. Other activities related to the conference include special exhibitions on themes such as archaeological and classical studies achievements and classical studies activities in colleges and universities. The conference will also host multiple sub-forums on Friday.

Themed "Classical Civilization and the Modern World," the conference aims to explore the origins of human thought, summarize the wisdom of human history, and unearth the traditions of human civilization. It seeks to strengthen academic foundations for cultural exchange, provide insights for solving modern world problems, and promote human development, thereby advancing the construction of a global community with a shared future.

(Cover: The outside of the building where the opening ceremony of the World Conference of Classics was held in Beijing, China, November 6, 2024. / Chinese Academy of Social Science)