Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and director of the Chinese Academy of History (CAH) under CASS, meets with Massimo D’Alema, former prime minister of Italy and president of Fondazione Italianieuropei. Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN
On March 19th, Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and director of the Chinese Academy of History (CAH) under CASS, accompanied by Zhao Rui, vice president of CASS, met with Massimo D’Alema, former prime minister of Italy and president of Fondazione Italianieuropei at the third “International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values” in Beijing.
Gao Xiang welcomed D’Alema’s visit and provided a succinct overview of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Chinese Academy of History, and the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Gao Xiang noted that China and Italy, which are both ancient civilizations with long and splendid histories, have broad prospects for exchanges and cooperation in the fields of philosophy and social sciences. As China’s highest-level academic institution for philosophical and social science research as well as the national center for integrated philosophical and social science research, CASS is ready to work with Italian research institutions to actively promote exchanges and dialogue between different civilizations, with the goal of replacing estrangement with exchange, clashes with mutual learning, and superiority with coexistence. CASS is planning and organizing a number of international research projects. The institution anticipates increased participation from influential Italian scholars like Mr. D’Alema, viewing their participation as pivotal to enhancing academic exchange between China and Italy and ensuring the long-term stability of China-Italy relations.
Mr. D’Alema expressed his gratitude for the warm reception by CASS. He has visited China numerous times and witnessed the significant changes it has experienced in recent years, and he has personally felt China’s vigorous development momentum. Mr. D’Alema noted the world today is suffering from turbulence and the resurgence of the Cold War mentality, which requires more efforts in resuming exchanges and dialogue and jointly advancing in the right direction. Fondazione Italianieuropei will continue its endeavor to promote friendly cooperation between Italy and China and encourage more Italian institutions to engage in extensive exchanges with China.