Intl conference on classics set for Athens

The second World Conference of Classics will be held June 9–10 at the century-old Academy of Athens in Greece, organized jointly by China’s Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Greece’s Ministry of Culture, and the Academy of Athens. The event, themed *Dialogue between Ancient and Modern: Contemporary Inspirations from Classical Wisdom*, will bring together 200 scholars from 20 countries to examine how classical wisdom can inform modern challenges in education, ethics, peace, and technology. Four parallel subforums will run June 9–10, covering topics like *Virtue and Paideia: A Modern Interpretation of Classical Education* and *Technology and Civilization: Humanism in the Age of Digital Intelligence*. Liu Zuokui, director of CASS’s Institute of World History, emphasized discussions on war, peace, and civilizational clashes, while Li Guoqiang, deputy director of CASS’s Chinese Academy of History, highlighted linking classical humanism with AI and algorithmic transformations. The conference will release a joint initiative on classical wisdom’s role in global challenges and launch an international visiting scholar program at the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens. An exhibition, *Bringing Classics into the Modern World*, will showcase classical texts, archaeological findings, and interactive displays combining traditional Chinese medicine and intelligent technologies. Opening ceremonies and a plenary session will take place June 9, followed by subforums and a closing ceremony. Yue Yunxia, deputy director of CASS’s Bureau of International Cooperation, noted the event aims to foster dialogue on classical civilizations’ contemporary relevance. The conference underscores the integration of ancient insights with modern societal and technological progress.