Chongqing—The 2nd Global Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations officially opened in Chongqing on June 25, 2025, and will run through June 27.
The forum, themed "Ancient Wisdom for the Global South," is hosted by the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations and enjoys the strong support of UNESCO and other leading international organizations. The event has drawn more than 60 renowned scholars and experts from over 20 countries across five continents.
A display at the event highlights the theme: “Chinese and Greek Civilizations from a Global Perspective.” (Photo/Chen Chang)
China and Greece jointly established the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations in February 2023. In a reply letter to Greek scholars, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated the founding of the Center and stated that our two countries have established the Center and are committed to promoting exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations and fostering the development of various civilizations. This is of great historical and contemporary significance.
Over the past two years, the Center has brought together leading universities from both countries, organizing comparative research, academic exchanges, summer camps, scholarly journals, translation projects, and documentary productions. These efforts have built new bridges for people-to-people exchange between China, Greece, and Europe. Notable achievements have been made in joint research, talent development, high-level cultural exchanges, and digital humanities.
The successful convening of this year’s forum is a testament to the deepening cooperation between the Center and several universities in both countries.
A New Chapter in Global Academic Cooperation
At the opening ceremony, Wang Jinjun, President of Southwest University, emphasized that since its inception, the Center has established itself as a flagship platform for Sino-Greek educational and cultural exchange, particularly through academic collaboration, joint talent cultivation, and high-level humanistic exchange. In recent years, eight universities from China and Greece have joined forces and achieved significant results.
Wang Jinjun, President of Southwest University, gives a speech at the opening ceremony. (Photo/Chen Chang)
Looking ahead, Southwest University will continue to fully support the Center by strengthening resource allocation, optimizing the academic environment, promoting interdisciplinary innovation, and expanding international cooperation, especially by using the “Global South” as a focal point to broaden the scope of dialogue among civilizations.
In remarks delivered by Ioanna Kakalidi on behalf of H.E. Evgenios Kalpyris, Ambassador of Greece to China, the forum emphasized the shared emphasis on dialogue in both Greek and Chinese philosophical traditions. The Ambassador noted that dialogue—used to teach, exchange, and reconcile differing opinions—serves as a key bridge between the two civilizations.
Ioanna Kakalidi, on behalf of H.E. Evgenios Kalpyris, Ambassador of Greece to China, gives a speech at the opening ceremony. (Photo/Chen Chang)
He also stressed that "ancient wisdom provides us all with this much-needed spiritual armor," offering valuable guidance for politics, education, and social harmony, especially as the Global South faces new and ongoing challenges.
Forum Launches International Academic Platforms and Communities
The opening ceremony also marked the inauguration of the Institute for Area Studies and the Institute for Classical Studies. To foster further collaboration, two new global academic alliances—the Global Platonic Studies Community and the Global Contemporary Greek Studies Community—were launched.
The Institute for International and Area Studies was formally launched at the opening ceremony. (Photo/Chen Chang)
Cui Yanqiang, Chinese Director of the Center, described the establishment of the new institutes and academic communities as a major milestone.
He likened the Center to an aircraft, "now equipped with powerful engines and strong wings," bridging classical heritage and contemporary life through digital innovation and academic collaboration. By uniting scholars and students from diverse backgrounds, the Center aims to break down cultural barriers and foster dialogue, serving, in Cui’s words, as “Hermes between civilizations” and pursuing shared values of peace, justice, and development.
As the forum continues, it aims to create a high-level global platform for dialogue between the Global North and South, and between East and West. Through mutual respect, deep dialogue, and shared learning among civilizations, participants hope to explore new pathways for peace and sustainable development for all of humanity.