Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his warm congratulations to the inaugural World Conference of Classics with a heartfelt letter on Thursday. The conference, themed \"Classical Civilizations and the Modern World,\" officially commenced in Beijing on the same day.
Co-organized by China and Greece, the event marks a significant milestone in fostering civilizational exchange and mutual learning between these two ancient civilizations and other participating nations. The establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens further underscores the commitment to deepening academic and cultural ties.
In his congratulatory message, Xi highlighted the flourishing of ancient Chinese and Greek civilizations over two millennia ago, emphasizing their foundational role in the development of human civilization. He reaffirmed China's dedication to preserving and advancing cultural heritages, enhancing international people-to-people exchanges, and promoting global dialogues among civilizations.
Xi also underscored China's readiness to collaborate with other nations in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative. This initiative aims to address shared challenges facing humanity and to promote the advancement of human civilization through collective effort and understanding.
The President expressed his hope that experts and scholars attending the conference would embrace the responsibility of advancing classical studies, contributing to the preservation and development of civilizations, and enhancing exchanges and mutual learning.
The opening ceremony, held in Beijing, saw Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, read out Xi's congratulatory letter. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou's letter was also presented, alongside a written address from UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
The conference attracted over 600 participants, including officials and experts from China and Greece, as well as scholars, cultural figures, youth representatives, and media professionals from around the world. This diverse gathering sets the stage for meaningful discussions and collaborations aimed at bridging classical civilizations with the modern world.
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Xi sends congratulatory letter to first World Conference of Classics
cgtn.com
