On May 29, Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), met with Evgenios Kalpyris, Greek ambassador to China, in Beijing.
CASS President Gao Xiang meets with Greek Ambassador to China Evgenios Kalpyris. Photo: Zhu Gaolei/CSSN
Noting the progress of bilateral ties in recent years under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Greek leaders, Gao said the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to deepen. Bound by shared understanding and mutual affinity, the two countries have achieved fruitful results across various fields of cooperation, he added.
He described China and Greece as ancient civilizations with splendid histories spanning thousands of years, stressing that exchange and mutual learning between these two great civilizations has not only laid a solid foundation for the steady and sustained development of bilateral relations, but also transcended the bilateral sphere to acquire global significance.
Turning to the intellectual traditions of the two countries, Gao noted that the philosophical systems of ancient Greece and pre-Qin China emerged during the same historical epoch, with many concepts converging in spirit despite their distinct origins. Together, he said, they stand as twin monuments of human civilization.
“As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, the law of the jungle—where the weak are prey to the strong—is re-emerging on the international stage. This is by no means a sign of progress,” Gao remarked. Against this backdrop, it is both timely and deeply meaningful for China and Greece to jointly advance classical studies, revisit the wisdom of the sages, and uphold the baseline of civilization.
Gao added that, guided by the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to the inaugural World Conference of Classics, CASS will continue to develop the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens (CSCSA), fully promoting China-Greece academic exchanges, deepening cooperation in archaeology, philosophy, and literature, and acting as both a participant in exchange and mutual learning between the two civilizations and a facilitator of people-to-people bonds.
“We will continue to support young scholars in visiting Greece, encouraging them to master the Greek language and become friendly envoys who understand both Confucius and Plato, and serving as bridges of communication between our peoples,” Gao said.
He also extended an invitation for Ambassador Kalpyris to visit the CSCSA upon his return to Greece, expressing hope that the visit would open new avenues for cooperation and further strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
Kalpyris affirmed that friendly exchanges between Greece and China have a long history, and that civilizational dialogue constitutes a vital component of bilateral relations. He stated that the Greek government follows and supports the development of the CSCSA, expressing confidence that both sides will continue to deepen cooperation and yield more fruitful results. The Embassy of Greece in China will, as always, support academic and youth exchanges, working alongside CASS to jointly advance the development of bilateral relations.