Huang Huilin (left) from Beijing Normal University and Eleni Karamalengou from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens speak at the China-Greece forum held in Athens.[Photo provided to China Daily]

ATHENS－Representatives of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and Beijing Normal University participated in a forum held in Athens in September under the title China-Greece Dialogue: The Contemporary Reach and Influence of Chinese Culture.

During the event held on the NKUA's campus, Greek and Chinese professors exchanged views on cultural links between the two countries and explored prospects to deepen bilateral cooperation in academia, science and art.

"We share several common elements (that) we can develop into a very positive cooperation in the future in the cultural sector ... Today's forum will highlight these aspects and the potential of collaboration," Eleni Karamalengou, dean of the School of Philosophy at NKUA, said in the opening remarks.

Welcoming Chinese teachers and students at the forum, Meletios Athanasios Dimopoulos, rector of the NKUA, said the Greek university aims to strengthen existing links with Chinese universities through student-exchange programs and special courses. The NKUA will soon launch a course in Greek literature in English to attract more foreign students who do not speak Greek, he adds.

"The main driving force toward this direction was our wish to attract students from China ... We could not settle with only those who know the Greek language," he says.

"We believe we must open our university in particular in fields of great significance for Greece through study programs in English."

Addressing the forum, Huang Huilin, dean of the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture at Beijing Normal University, stresses that cooperation between the two countries in this field will be beneficial to the entire world.

"Both countries' civilizations exerted great influence on the development of the world's civilization," she says, adding that the meeting of the two civilizations in the 21st century can help humanity.

Communication between China and Greece is not just between two countries, but a form of modern dialogue between two ancient civilizations, Huang says.

Wang Chao, cultural attache of the Chinese embassy in Athens, welcomes such initiatives that bring people closer through cultural exchanges between civilizations.

"We hope that more such cultural forums, such dialogues can be held. To make people listen to each other directly, seeing each other directly is better," he says.