A special event was held recently at the Center for Chinese and Greek Civilisation, at Southwest University, Chongqing, on the occasion of the World Greek Language Day, officially celebrated on February 9. Under the theme ‘“Civilisational Carriers, Bridges of Mutual Learning – World Greek Language Day”, the event brought together Greek language and culture experts from Greek universities, as well as from Greek studies departments of universities all over China.

In his introductory address, Ambassador of Greece to China, Dr. Evgenios Kalpyris, traced the Greek language’s 4,000-year-old history and highlighted “the undeniable global dynamism of the Greek linguistic phenomenon’’. ‘‘The Greek language dominated the world for almost 2000 years and it continues to do so today through its influence on all Western languages and the ideas it conveys to all corners of the world. It is not an exaggeration to say that Greek is deeply engraved in the DNA of Western thought. As a global public good, it constitutes a wonderful vehicle for understanding the western culture and way of thinking”, the Ambassador added.

The Director of the Center for Chinese and Greek Civilisations Cui Yanqiang noted: ‘Our goal is to give stronger impetus into the rooting and development of Greek language studies in Chinese universities enabling more young Chinese students to touch the roots of Western civilisation through the authentic Greek language’.

Speeches on the value of the Greek language and its historical contribution to the dialogue among civilisations were also delivered by Christina Koulouri, Rector of Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Athens, Vasileios Vertoudakis, Professor of Ancient Greek Philology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hu Jinging, Assistant Professor at the Shanghai International Studies University and Dimitris Sotakis, a renowned Greek author and Chinese literature translator.

During the event and in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, the Ambassador of Greece Dr. Evgenios Kalpyris awarded representatives of nine Greek Studies centers of Chinese universities, in recognition of their outstanding contribution in the promotion of Greek studies in China.

The event concluded with cultural performances by Chinese high school and university students, which included recitation of Greek poetry and singing.

The event was co-organized by the Embassy of Greece in China and the Center for Chinese and Greek Civilisation.