At a media briefing held in Beijing on June 1, it was announced that the Second World Conference of Classics, co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), China’s Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Greece’s Ministry of Culture, and the Academy of Athens, will be held in Athens, Greece, from June 9 to 10.

A scene of the media briefing Photo: Wang Zhou/CSSN

Themed “Dialogue between Ancient and Modern: Contemporary Inspirations from Classical Wisdom,” the conference aims to explore the contemporary role and mission of classical studies. In particular, it will examine how classical wisdom can be revitalized amid profound changes unseen in a century—as opportunities and challenges coexist—and how it can offer inspiration and guidance for human development and civilizational progress in the contemporary era.

Designed to serve as an important platform for researchers of world classical civilizations to exchange ideas and build consensus, the event will bring together leading scholars of classical studies from China and abroad, as well as experts in civilization, culture, and archaeology, for in-depth discussions on issues related to classical civilizations.

Yue Yunxia, deputy director-general of the Bureau of International Cooperation at CASS, said the conference will invite nearly 200 renowned experts, scholars, and cultural figures from approximately 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, reflecting a full embrace of civilizational diversity in terms of both geographical distribution and academic scope. Participants will include scholars specializing not only in Western classics and Chinese classics, but also in other ancient civilizations of the world.

The plenary session will feature keynote speeches delivered by prominent experts in classical civilizations from China and abroad. Four parallel sub-forums will address the following topics: “Virtue and Education: Modern Interpretations of Classical Learning,” “Friendship and Community: Ethical Communities Amidst the Continuity of Past and Present,” “Peace and Order: Civilizational Solutions for Global Changes,” and “Technology and Civilization: Humanistic Spirit in the Digital and Intelligent Era.”

At the closing ceremony, two key conference deliverables will be released: a joint initiative titled “Illuminating Humanity’s Path Forward with Classical Wisdom” and the “Global Scholars Fellowship Program of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens.”

On the sidelines of the conference, a supporting exhibition themed “Bringing Classics to the Modern Era: Exhibition of World Classical Civilizations” will also be held. The exhibition will showcase Chinese and foreign classical texts and research literature, traditional Chinese medical classics, major achievements in archaeological science and cultural heritage conservation, as well as interactive smart-tech experiences.

In addition, dynamic displays and hands-on activities centered on traditional Chinese medicine culture will be organized. Designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations, the exhibition will engage visitors through multidimensional and immersive presentations.

Following the conference, participants will be invited to visit the Angelokastro archaeological site, the first China-Greece joint archaeological project, undertaken through a collaboration between the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens under CASS and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage under the Greek Ministry of Culture.