Dialogue between Chinese and Greek civilizations

Liu Jie, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee led a delegation to Greece, Italy, and Hong Kong SAR from May 23 to June 1. The delegation organized cultural, economic, trade, science, and investment meetings, achieving significant results through high-level meetings, business matchmaking, project signings, and research activities.

The "Dialogue of Civilizations between Liangzhu Ancient City and the Acropolis of Athens" convened on May 24, marking a continuation of the collaborative efforts that began in July 2023. This gathering in Athens highlighted the enduring cultural connections between the East and the West.

Liu Jie addressed the attendees, emphasizing the significance of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City as a testament to China's five-thousand-year history and the Acropolis as the cradle of Western civilization. He underscored the importance of this dialogue in fostering mutual understanding and cooperation between China and Greece.

Chinese Ambassador to Greece, Xiao Junzheng, praised the enduring cultural exchange between the two nations. He noted that Liangzhu and the Acropolis symbolize the long-standing relationship between Chinese and Greek civilizations, contributing significantly to human progress.

Margarita Lioulia, representing the Greek Ministry of Culture, highlighted the depth and breadth of cultural exchanges between Greece and China. She announced plans for a Greek cultural delegation to visit China in October to continue the dialogue.

During the roundtable discussions, experts from both countries explored the theme "From History to the Future: Interpretation, Protection, and Utilization of Archaeological Sites". They shared insights on the value, protection, and utilization of archaeological sites from a comparative civilization perspective.

Ye Weijun, Deputy Director of the Liangzhu Site Management Committee, highlighted the significance of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City and the local efforts in its preservation and promotion. Georgios Vavouranakis, a professor at the University of Athens, elaborated on the Knossos Palace site and Minoan civilization, while Vasiliki Eleftheriou from the Greek Ministry of Culture detailed the restoration efforts of the Acropolis. Stelios Virvidakis, Chairman of the Sino-Greek Civilization Center for Comparative Civilization, shared his perspectives on deepening the research on Sino-Greek cultural exchanges.

The event also featured a themed exhibition on Liangzhu culture, allowing attendees to explore the historical and cultural elements of the Liangzhu Ancient City. Additionally, plans were announced to bring an exhibition of prehistoric Aegean cultural relics to Hangzhou, Zhejiang, next year.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy strategic partnership and the 5th anniversary of the Hangzhou-Verona World Heritage Site agreement. On May 28, Liu Jie attended the third Global Digital Trade Expo Italian Promotion Conference held in Rome with six cooperation projects signed, including the unveiling of the Cross-Border E-commerce Overseas Cooperation Park Italy Zone.

On May 31, Liu Jie attended the 2024 Hangzhou-Hong Kong Technology Promotion and Signing Conference, where Hangzhou Innovation Incubation Center (Hong Kong) Limited signed an incubation agreement with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and memorandums of understanding with 14 Hangzhou tech enterprises.