For millennia, China and Greece have been standing as two of the world's oldest continuous cultures, contributing their roles to the shared legacy of human civilizations, with figures who ventured beyond their homelands in search of knowledge and exchange.
While Confucius traveled with his disciples to various feudal states, Greek historian Herodotus traversed mountains and seas as an early travel writer. And while envoy Zhang Qian opened up the ancient Silk Road, Greek geographer Strabo wrote Geographica, an encyclopedia of diverse countries and peoples.
"The cultures and philosophies of these two ancient civilizations have illuminated each other, and their influence continues to resonate globally, jointly composing a magnificent epic of mutual learning between civilizations," says Xie Bing, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.
A recent edition of the Civilization Dialogue of Ancient Capitals event further connected the two countries. Titled Civilization and Peace: From the Parthenon to the Old Summer Palace, the event was hosted in two parts, respectively on June 10 in Athens and on June 14 in Beijing, bringing together experts and scholars from both countries in conversations about heritage preservation and innovation.
At the Beijing forum, Xie said that cultural relic preservation has been a key area of collaboration between the two countries since the beginning of the 21st century.
In 2008, China and Greece signed a memorandum of understanding centered on preventing theft, illegal excavation and illicit import and export of cultural artifacts.
Since then, the two countries have collaborated extensively in cultural heritage preservation, exhibition and exchange. Experts from both sides have provided mutual support in the restoration of heritage sites, and cultural artifacts have been exchanged for exhibitions.
To strengthen future cooperation, Xie put forward three key proposals: enhancing dialogue and mutual understanding, carrying out collaborative projects and participating in global governance of cultural heritage.
"Dialogue and exchange in the field of world cultural heritage should be strengthened, and a model for twinning UNESCO World Heritage Sites should be built, so as to encourage heritage conservation institutions and local governments in China and Greece to establish friendly relations," Xie says.
"It is important to deepen exchanges on conservation concepts, management mechanisms, and preservation techniques, so that we can broaden our perspectives and learn from each other's strengths."
In a video speech, Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations resident coordinator in China, said that sites such as the Parthenon and the Old Summer Palace are reminders of the rich tapestry of human civilization, and represent shared human heritage that calls for joint protection.
"These sites are not merely relics of the past. They are living narratives that continue to inspire dialogue, understanding and cooperation among people," he said.
He stressed that intercultural dialogue is an absolute necessity, and that culture should be recognized not only as a source of identity and pride, but as a powerful force for peace, dignity, and sustainable development.
To further advance the Civilization Dialogue of Ancient Capitals initiative, the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation established a specific fund at the Beijing forum.
The event also registered the first donation to the fund, made by the Huihuang Zhongzhou (Glorious Central Axis) Supply Chain Management Co Ltd, marking the involvement of nongovernmental organizations in supporting cultural exchanges and mutual learning.
Building on the insights shared by experts, Xiong Chengyu, senior professor at the Communication University of China and chair of the forum, announced an initiative to advocate Sino-Greek dialogue on behalf of the event's organizing committee.
The initiative proposes that, to deepen mutual learning between China and Greece, and to promote shared values of humanity, efforts should be made to build new platforms for inter-civilizational dialogue, encourage people-to-people cultural exchanges, explore innovative ways for digital empowerment, and embrace inclusivity among diverse civilizations.
