Chongqing - The 4th China-Europe Humanities and Arts Education Forum was held in Chongqing from December 18 to 19, 2025, bringing together nearly 300 participants from educational institutions, cultural organizations, enterprises, and social groups across China and Europe. The forum focused on how digital technology can expand aesthetic education and deepen people-to-people exchange between the two sides.
The 4th China-Europe Humanities and Arts Education Forum is held in Chongqing from December 18 to 19, 2025. (Photo/The Event Organizer)
Jointly hosted by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange of the Ministry of Education, the China-Europe Education Alliance for Humanities and Arts, and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, the forum’s discussions centered on youth exchange, digital innovation, interdisciplinary education, and civilizational dialogue.
In a video address at the opening ceremony, Ren Youqun, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Education, described the forum as a concrete outcome of China-Europe consensus on strengthening education and cultural cooperation, calling for sustained youth mobility, deeper collaboration in digital education and the humanities, and long-term dialogue mechanisms.
Yu Changxue, Director-General of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, noted that the forum coincided with the 50th anniversary of China–EU diplomatic ties and stressed the need to strengthen humanities and arts education through diversified youth platforms and deeper cross-sector cultural exchange.
Art’s ability to transcend language and borders emerged as a recurring theme. Tang Qingyang, Party Secretary of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, said aesthetic education connects people emotionally and highlighted the institute’s efforts to integrate art with technology, advance digital aesthetic education, and expand international cooperation to cultivate globally minded talent.
Zhang Donggang, Party Secretary of Renmin University of China, underscored the role of arts education as a bridge between civilizations, noting that sustained cultural exchange helps build trust and shared values between societies.
Local education officials highlighted Chongqing’s role as a key Asia-Europe hub and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to supporting international cooperation in arts education and institutional partnerships with European counterparts.
From a European perspective, the Greek ambassador to China, Evgenios Kalpyris, said that despite the geographical distance, Greece and China share deep philosophical and artistic connections, adding that arts education should serve as a bridge linking people and inspiring future-oriented cooperation beyond national borders.
The Chongqing Initiative of the 4th China-Europe Humanities and Arts Education Forum was released at the opening ceremony. (Photo/The Event Organizer)
Key outcomes of the forum included the release of the compilation of exemplary cases on China-Europe people-to-people exchange and mutual learning in humanities and arts education, and the launch of the digital cloud exhibition hall for the 2025 “China Express for International People-to-People Exchange” Global Youth’s Fine Art. A cooperation memorandum was also signed to jointly establish a research institute dedicated to aesthetic education and people-to-people exchange between the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange and the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and participants released the Chongqing Initiative outlining shared commitments for future collaboration.
The forum’s keynote session brought together voices from diplomacy, education, cultural research, and international communication. Speakers stressed that in an era of global uncertainty, humanities and arts education can help transcend differences, encourage dialogue and guide technological development toward inclusive and ethical outcomes.
The 2025 “China Express for International People-to-People Exchange” Global Youth’s Fine Art Exhibition opens in Chongqing on December 18, 2025. (Photo/The Event Organizer)
Scholars' insights added historical and theoretical depth to the discussions. Italian sinologist Dario Famularo emphasized that Europe’s understanding of Chinese art remains limited outside specialist circles. He noted that Sinology can help provide a more comprehensive and multidimensional view of Chinese artistic traditions, while also revealing the long history of dialogue between Chinese and European art—from early material exchanges along ancient trade routes to the influence of Eastern aesthetics on modern European art movements. Strengthening this perspective, he argued, would enrich European arts education and promote a more balanced narrative of cultural interaction.
Gao Hong, Vice President of the China Committee for Promoting Art Education, highlighted the broader significance of China-Europe exchange in arts education, particularly for younger generations. He observed that China’s long-standing aesthetic traditions and Europe’s artistic heritage have shaped one another over the centuries. Today, he said, initiatives such as the 2025 “China Express for International People-to-People Exchange” Global Youth’s Fine Art Exhibition transform physical trade routes into channels for cultural integration. By encouraging collaborative creation among young people from different countries, such programs help foster global awareness and lay a lasting foundation for people-to-people exchange.
The forum also featured a roundtable on digital aesthetic education, addressing topics such as intelligent art creation, digital preservation of cultural heritage and interdisciplinary curriculum design. Four parallel sessions further explored youth exchange, art therapy, curriculum innovation and civilizational dialogue from multiple perspectives.
The event concluded with musical performances by Chinese and international students, offering a vivid reminder of the forum’s central message: art transcends borders, connects people and remains a powerful force for mutual understanding in China-Europe relations.