China-Greece Year of Culture and Tourism launched at foot of Athens Acropolis

During the ceremony, Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou, director of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and Wang Qiang, charge d'Affaires minister-counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, inaugurated the digital exhibition "Parallel Space: Meet the Terracotta Warriors in Greece" that runs until Feb. 28, 2022 on the Greek museum's website.

"Through advanced digital screens that offer a rich interactive cultural experience, the exhibition will allow Greeks to appreciate the charm of Chinese relics in virtual space-time and understand the course of the excavation, research and protection of the Terracotta Warriors," Li Qun, head of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration which co-organized the exhibition, said in a video message.

"This is the result of a creative collaboration that runs during the entire period of COVID-19 and I must say that it kept us active," Karapanagiotou told Xinhua.

The opening event at Ancient Agora closed with a performance by artists of the Greek National Opera and the unveiling of a sculpture featuring ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and Chinese philosopher Confucius.

The artwork entitled "Socrates and Confucius: A Meeting" is created by Wu Weishan, curator of the National Art Museum of China.

"I am sure that if we present our heritage in a modern way people will renew their interest in it," said Vassilios Xiros, diplomatic advisor to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, and a member of the team that prepared events for the upcoming culture and tourism year.

"Both countries have modern culture to present which remains relatively unknown," added Xiros, voicing confidence that the China-Greece Year of Culture and Tourism will be a great opportunity to further explore that area.

"Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic and the difficulties arising, our relations with China advance and I wish they will further develop in the future," said Constantine Yannidis, president of the Hellenic-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Shipping.