Literature and learning bridge China and Greece

The cultural ties between Greece and China are growing ever stronger, highlighted by a series of collaborative events and initiatives held in Southwest China's Chongqing recently to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Amid the buzz of these celebrations, Greek author and Chinese literature translator Dimitris Sotakis shared his excitement at the 3rd Global Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, held in mid-April. "We now have many possibilities for collaboration in China in the field of literature that I represent," Sotakis told China Daily.

He added that over the past year, his literary works have found a receptive audience in China, with his second book translated and published on the Chinese mainland. His invitations to major book fairs and events in China further underscore the growing interest in Greek literature.

"Contact with the Chinese language and its way of thinking also acts as a mirror for Greek. It forces us to reevaluate concepts we take for granted, to see our language not as something static, but as a dynamic system that evolves through encounters with differences. This interaction is not one-way, but a continuous dialogue that enriches both sides," he said, adding that there are still many significant contemporary Chinese writers whose works remain unknown in Greece, emphasizing the need for translation programs to bridge this gap.

Held from April 14 to 16 at the Center for Chinese and Greek Civilizations, also known as the Chinese KELKIP, at Southwest University in Chongqing, the forum brought together experts in the Greek language and culture from Greek universities and Chinese institutions with Greek studies departments across China, serving as a crucible of ideas and cultural exchange.

A highlight of the event was the launch of the Sino-Hellenic University Alliance for Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, which unites universities from both nations to foster educational exchange. This initiative promises to be a cornerstone for future scholarly collaboration.

The forum also saw the release of two book series aimed at enhancing mutual learning. One is the Contemporary Greek Legal Classics Translation Series — the first collection in China focused on Greek law. The other, the Documentary Series on Sino-Foreign Medical Exchanges Along the Silk Road, features Sino-Arab and Sino-Persian volumes.

Cui Yanqiang, director of the Chinese KELKIP, noted that the Greek law series was a collaborative effort between legal scholars and university professors from both countries.

In a video speech, Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, commended the center for its efforts to promote dialogue, educational exchange, and deeper understanding between cultures. "By bringing together two rich intellectual traditions, the center has created a meaningful platform for reflection and cooperation," he said.

The celebrations continued on April 18 with a salon in honor of World Greek Language Day. The Ambassador of Greece to China, Evgenios Kalpyris, awarded representatives of nine centers of Greek studies at Chinese universities for their outstanding contributions to promoting Greek studies in China. He highlighted the Greek language's 4,000-year history and its "undeniable global dynamism".

Greece established the Greek KELKIP in Athens in 2021, while Southwest University, with its strong background in humanities and philosophy, especially in Chinese and Greek civilizations, collaborated with other Chinese universities to set up the Chinese KELKIP two years later to engage in comprehensive cooperation with Greece.