Greece welcomed Ministers and senior representatives from around the world to the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, held at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, and Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, along with the representatives of 9 other countries, took part in the meeting and adopted the outcome document, the “Athens Declaration.”

Opening the Meeting, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis stressed the unique symbolism of gathering at the Acropolis Museum, “a place where the spirit of classical civilisation continues to breathe and inspire.” He stressed that “our ancestors laid the foundations of global society and charted new paths for humanity. Their cultural achievements are not relics of the past, but valuable assets for the future”.

“We must move beyond declarations toward concrete and practical forms of cooperation. The Forum must harness our collective soft power to advance a multilateralism based on principles - the conviction that shared problems require shared solutions, grounded in International Law and mutual respect”, added Greek Foreign Minister Gerapetritis.

Delegates reaffirmed that our ancient cultures — which gave humanity democracy, philosophy, theatre, governance, science, astronomy, architecture and literature — still “continue to converse across the centuries” and shape the modern world.

Key themes of ACF 2025

-Climate crisis & cultural heritage

Participants underscored the escalating threat of extreme weather and natural disasters to archaeological sites and monuments, calling for stronger international coordination to protect them.

-Illicit trafficking of cultural property

Member states renewed their commitment to enhanced legal, diplomatic and operational cooperation against the unlawful trade of cultural treasures — a global crime that damages “the cultural heritage of all humanity.”

Further priorities included:

• Research and academic collaboration

• Knowledge exchange in conservation and restoration

• Joint cultural initiatives that benefit local communities

• Youth education and engagement

Greece also welcomed Cyprus as the newest member of the ACF, while Mexico and India participated as observers - expanding the Forum’s global reach. Hosting this year’s Ministerial Meeting, Greece once again reaffirmed that culture is a bridge and a force for peace, resilience, understanding and sustainable development.