Under the theme "Classical Civilizations and the Modern World," the World Conference of Classics opens on November 7, 2024 in Beijing. Photo: VCG

The inaugural World Conference of Classics concluded in Beijing on Friday, with over 400 experts having engaged in in-depth discussions on topics related to classical civilizations during the three-day event.

The conference, jointly held by China and Greece, gathered heavyweight scholars and cultural luminaries. It has been seen as a move to encourage the world to draw from the wellspring of ancient wisdom for better mutual understanding.

Zhang Zhiqiang, director of the Institute of Philosophy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at the closing ceremony that the joint organization of the conference by China and Greece, along with the establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens, has created a new platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning. 

According to Zhang, many participating scholars described the conference as an unprecedented milestone in the history of classical studies, not only due to its scale but also because it has pushed the boundaries and enriched the paradigms of classical studies.

Jonathen Ready, professor of classical studies at the University of Michigan, said on Friday that the degree to which the conference brought together people from all over the globe is "almost unprecedented," and that it was a remarkable achievement.

Under the theme of "Classical Civilizations and the Modern World," the event aimed to provide a platform for exploring the modern value of classical civilizations, contributing wisdom and strength to tackle problems facing the development of human society, while also promoting exchanges and mutual learning as well as new developments in global civilization.

Xi Yanchun, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Shandong Provincial Committee, extended an invitation to global scholars at the closing ceremony, welcoming them to Shandong for a global initiative that aims to provide a platform for dialogue between Eastern and Western classical civilizations in the birthplace of Confucius.

At one of the sub-forums during the conference, Huang Dekuan, a professor from Tsinghua University, offered his insights on the field of Chinese classics.

As an emerging discipline, Chinese classics has great significance for strengthening the humanities in China, Huang noted. However, scholars from diverse academic backgrounds have differing perspectives on the core questions regarding the discipline's definition, objectives, and developmental strategies. To advance the field, it's essential to deepen research and discussions on these foundational issues, said Huang, adding that fostering a broader academic consensus can guide the sustainable development and growth of Chinese classics. 

Martin Kern, a professor from Princeton University, called for early China to be included as part of the global comparative antiquity. 

"The incredibly rich traditions of ancient China can contribute a wealth of new perspectives to the study of other civilizations and global antiquity as a system. Not only do Chinese scholars benefit from reading about Greece and the ancient Near East, but our colleagues in those fields will benefit just as much from reading about China. For our shared future, we must understand and inspire one another. And this is our only future," said Kern. 

"We must establish an institutional framework for shared discourses and a shared cultural and academic language that draws equitably on scholarship in different cultural traditions. Just as the ancient civilizations influenced one another across long distances, so must our scholarship be informed by that of other civilizations. This will make our scholarship cosmopolitan and deepen its substance," Kern noted. 

Against the backdrop of intense great-power competition in politics, trade, and technology, China has chosen to emphasize a platform dedicated to cultural exchange and reflection.