A "Dialogue of Civilizations" between Greece and China took place in Athens on Friday, focusing on the preservation of world cultural heritage sites.
The event, titled "Dialogue of Civilizations between Liangzhu Ancient City and the Acropolis of Athens," brought together Chinese archaeologists and scholars with their Greek counterparts. This meeting followed a similar event held in Hangzhou, China, last year.
Greek Deputy Minister of Culture Christos Dimas, in a statement read by a representative, emphasized the enduring impact of cultural exchanges: "Cultures have the ability to transcend geographical limitations, to engage with the present and the past, and to build bridges of communication and friendship that endure over time."
The previous year's event saw Greek cultural figures visiting the Liangzhu Ancient City site and the Liangzhu Museum, where they discussed the protection of cultural relics with Chinese scholars.
Stelios Virvidakis, president of the Center of Greek and Chinese Ancient Civilizations, highlighted the ongoing nature of cultural dialogue: "When we see the monuments, we try to imagine what were the virtues of the people, of the residents who built these cities."
Lydia Koniordou, former Greek Minister of Culture and Sports, shared her admiration for the Liangzhu Ancient City and the efforts of Chinese experts in preserving its cultural heritage. "It is an endless dialogue," Koniordou told Xinhua, expressing her appreciation for the ancient civilization and its preservation work.
