STORY: Inaugural world classics conference embraces mutual learning among civilizations
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 6-7, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:44
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the World Conference of Classics
2. STANDUP (English): ZHANG YUEYUAN, Xinhua correspondent
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HANS VAN ESS, Vice President for Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU)
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): THOMAS BROGAN, Director of Institute for Aegean Prehistory & Study Center for East Crete
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JAMES YOUNG, University of Victoria
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MISHA ANDREW TADD, Associated professor of Nankai University
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): EUGENIA MANOLIDOU, Elliniki Agogi (Athens-based school teaching classical Greek, history, and philosophy)
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): ANIL KUMAR SINGH, Jawaharlal Nehru University

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): ZHANG YUEYUAN, Xinhua correspondent
"The inaugural World Conference of Classics has been held in Beijing. Scholars from around the globe have gathered to engage in a cross-cultural exploration of ancient wisdom, opening the door to deeper mutual understanding between China and the West."

Themed "Classical Civilizations and the Modern World," the conference is co-organized by China and Greece and has drawn over 600 participants.

Scholars highlighted how China's rich cultural heritage provides valuable insights for studying other civilizations.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HANS VAN ESS, Vice President for Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU)
"I think that what is important is that other people learn about the values that are promoted in Chinese classical literature, in classical philosophy. In many respects, it is actually similar to what we find in Greek classics."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): THOMAS BROGAN, Director of Institute for Aegean Prehistory & Study Center for East Crete
"I understand it's very important for the foreign community to recognize the classical tradition of Chinese culture and that it's a vast and very rich history and art, and for philosophy and all of those traditions."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JAMES YOUNG, University of Victoria
"I think one of the impressive things about Chinese civilization is the continuity, the longevity of the civilization, the creativity of the civilization and the adaptability of Chinese civilization."

Highlighting the conference as a valuable platform for exchanges, some attendees emphasized that classical wisdom offers guidance for social well-being in today's world.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MISHA ANDREW TADD, Associated professor of Nankai University
"The classics have continued through history to be understood as meaningful and useful for us to think about how we want to live and how we want to deal with the issues and challenges in our own time."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): EUGENIA MANOLIDOU, Elliniki Agogi (Athens-based school teaching classical Greek, history, and philosophy)
"Philosophy and classics in general does indeed help us solve major humanities issues because it forms the foundation of the civilization. The culture itself, history, and philosophy are the basis of humanity."

SOUNDBITE 6 (English): ANIL KUMAR SINGH, Jawaharlal Nehru University
"Classics can give us light for a better future in order to keep the present more productive in the light of the past. So that I will say that definitely as much as classics will be discussed, human beings will move forward towards better and sophisticated lifestyle and better understanding of each other."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)