中希文明互鑒中心中方秘書長王勇：建設中希文化交流的旗艦型平臺

The Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations was inaugurated in Athens， capital of Greece， in February 2023. Initiated by the Southwest University， the Center was jointly established by educational institutions such as the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and relevant Chinese colleges and universities. Based on joint talent training programs and academic and cultural exchanges， the Center aims to facilitate mutual learning and exchanges between Chinese and Greek ancient civilizations， develop the civilizations and foster people-to-people bonds. These higher educational endeavors will help Chongqing be fully integrated into the Belt and Road cooperation. In an exclusive interview with The World and Chongqing， Wang Yong， Chinese Secretary-General of the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations， and Deputy Dean at the School of History and Culture and the School of Ethnology， Southwest University， explained the historical and contemporary significance of establishing the Center. He also talked glowingly about the prospect that the Center would lead and facilitate cultural exchanges between China and Europe as a model.

Facilitating Mutual Learning and Exchanges Between Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations and Fostering People-to-People Bonds

The Center is a great achievement resulting from years of preparation between China and Greece. “China expects the Center to serve as a leading platform and model to deliver services to more people. The long-standing civilizations will be leveraged to drive exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of domains such as education， tourism， sports， think tanks， media and the youth. As a proactive contributor to cultural exchanges between China and Europe， the Center aims to build new consensus and drive efforts to enhance the prosperity of the world’s civilizations and promote peaceful development，” said Wang Yong. He mentioned that the Center has been steadfastly pursuing the path and goal after its inauguration. Substantial efforts have been made to facilitate mutual learning and exchanges between Chinese and Greek ancient civilizations and foster people-to-people bonds， resulting in several landmark advances.

In terms of cultural exchanges， the Center actively organized exchange visits for Chinese and Greek academics. It held an array of academic forums such as “Lectures on Mutual Learning Between Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations.” In addition， an international summer school， “The Seeds of Virtue，” started at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi， Delphi， Greece. The “Youth Dialogue on Mutual Learning Between Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations” was jointly hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation， and Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. Moreover， the Center organized an event of the International Chinese Language Day and the Youth Dialogue of China’s and Greece’s Generation Z in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Hellenic Republic. It also deeply engaged in major international communication forums， such as the Golden Panda International Cultural Forum and the Ninth Nishan Forum on World Civilizations. Chinese students at colleges and universities were organized to embark on journeys to cities in Greece， such as Athens， Patras and Olympia， for local cultural experiences and communicating the Chinese civilization.

Wang Yong stated that the Center has been actively pioneering innovation in the joint talent training programs by inaugurating the Joint Master Program on “Chinese and Greek Civilizations： A Comparative Approach.” The program is China’s first of its kind that implements the Global Civilization Initiative and nurtures talent focused on mutual learning between civilizations. It is also the world’s first committed to facilitating the comparison between Chinese and Greek ancient civilizations.

In terms of academic research and promotion， the Center took the lead in organizing academic conferences in places such as Chongqing， Beijing， Athens， Patras and Thessaloniki， in collaboration with eight colleges and universities. These conferences were held in partnership with organizations， including the China National Archives of Publications and Culture， the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China， the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China， Harvard University， Cambridge University and the European Cultural Centre. Attendees delved deeper into important topics such as mutual learning of civilizations and building up cultural strength as well as the comparison of origins， evolution， and basic concepts between Eastern and Western civilizations.

Contributing to Shaping Chongqing into a Pilot City Implementing the “Global Civilization Initiative”

Why was the Center initiated by the Southwest University？ Wang Yong believed that was “historically inevitable.”

“Southwest University is the cradle of mutual learning between Chinese and Greek ancient civilizations， with a solid foundation and sustained legacy，” said Wang Yong. In the 1950s， Wu Mi， a noted academic with a thorough knowledge of both China and Western countries， initiated the comparative study of the two civilizations at the Southwest China Normal University （currently the Southwest University）， establishing enduring traditions in the domain. The university is esteemed for its research on Greek philosophy and history in academia. It has established a dedicated center for Greek studies in the 21st century， which functions as a base for international and regional studies （and filing） under the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.

The contemporary context is also worth mentioning. In March 2011， China’s first China-Europe Railway Express （Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe） departed from Chongqing to Europe， unlocking a new chapter for the opening-up of Chongqing， a city situated in inland China. With a unique geographical location， the municipality stands at the forefront of openness， as China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor are implemented.

Wang Yong pointed out another significant reason for Southwest University’s efforts to align with national strategies and assume responsibilities. He indicated that “since June 2020， Southwest University has been planning to build a platform to facilitate mutual learning between Chinese and Greek ancient civilizations， according to the agreement between the two heads of state. Considerable coordination efforts have been made to draft multiple versions of the design plan， convene dozens of online meetings， and exchange a thousand of mails.”

“The university will vigorously implement the guidelines in President Xi Jinping’s reply letter. In line with the requirements of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Chongqing Municipal Government， it will invest resources and further collaboration with three Chinese academic institutions and four Greek ones. By mobilizing all walks of life， the Center aims to become a flagship platform for cultural exchanges between China and Greece and a model hub for mutual learning among the world’s civilizations.” Wang Yong noted that the Center would keep conducting academic research and promotion， international joint talent training programs， and high-level cultural exchanges between China and other countries. Every task will be completed with digital technologies and contribute to the high-quality development of the Center.

“The Center will also implement a package plan to build a new Chongqing on the new journey in the new era.” Wang Yong stated that the Center would collaborate with Chongqing to 1） create a brand forum on “Mutual Learning Between Civilizations”; 2） initiate an international academics program on this topic; 3） launch an exclusive line of academic and cultural products， named “Land-Sea Narration”; 4） launch a journal titled Mutual Learning Between Civilizations; 5） lead the establishment of a joint Master’s program on international affairs and the application for the first-level discipline doctoral program on international and regional studies when advancing the Joint Master Program on “Chinese and Greek Civilizations： A Comparative Approach”; and 6） continue promoting cultural exchanges and economic and trade ties between Chongqing and Greece， contributing to shaping Chongqing into a pilot city implementing the “Global Civilization Initiative”.

Photo/Interviewee

2023年2月，中國—希臘文明互鑒中心在希臘首都雅典成立。該中心由西南大學牽頭，聯合國內相關高校，與希臘雅典大學等共同合作成立。立足聯合人才培養、學術交流、人文交往等工作，推動中希文明交流互鑒、促進中希文明發展和民心相通，為重慶積極融入共建“一帶一路”倡議貢獻高校力量。本刊記者專訪中希文明互鑒中心中方秘書長，西南大學歷史文化學院、民族學院副院長王勇，詳解建立中希文明互鑒中心的歷史和時代意義，暢談其發揮示范引領作用促進中歐人文交流的美好愿景。

推動中希文明交流互鑒、促進民心相通

中希文明互鑒中心是兩國籌備多年結出的碩果?！皣乙笾邢Ｎ拿骰ヨb中心發揮平臺性、示范性、引領性和輻射性的作用，以兩國源遠流長的文明為紐帶，帶動教育、旅游、體育、智庫、傳媒、青年等廣泛領域的交流合作，積極參與中歐人文交流，為促進世界文明繁榮、和平發展凝聚起新的共識與力量?！蓖跤陆榻B，中心啟動以來，一直在深入踐行這一路徑和目標，在推動中希文明交流互鑒、促進民心相通方面開展了大量工作，取得了一系列標志性的成果。

人文交流方面，中心積極組織中希兩國學者互訪，開啟了“文明互鑒大講堂”等系列學術講座。在希臘德爾菲歐洲文化中心開辦“美德的種子”國際暑期學校；與中國人民對外友好協會和教育部中外語言交流合作中心聯合舉辦中希文明互鑒青年交流會；聯合中國駐希臘使館主辦國際中文日活動和中?！癦世代”青年交流活動；組織國內高校學生前往希臘雅典、帕特雷和奧林匹亞等地體驗希臘文化、傳播中華文明；深度參與金熊貓國際文化論壇、第九屆尼山世界文明論壇等大型國際傳播論壇。

王勇介紹，中心在聯合人才培養方面積極開拓創新，啟動中國—希臘文明比較國際聯合碩士項目。該項目為國內首個落實全球文明倡議、培養文明互鑒類人才碩士項目，也是目前全球首個致力于推動中希兩大文明比較的項目。

學術研究和推廣方面，中心牽頭8所高校，協同國家版本館、教育部、外交部、哈佛大學、劍橋大學、歐洲文化中心等單位，分別在重慶、北京、雅典、帕特雷、賽洛尼卡等地舉辦多場學術會議，深入探討文明互鑒與文化強國建設、東西方文明的起源、演進和基本概念比較等重要問題。

為重慶打造落實“全球文明倡議”先行城市作貢獻

中希文明互鑒中心緣何會由西南大學作為中方牽頭高校？王勇認為，這是“歷史的必然”。

“西南大學是中希文明互鑒發軔的地方，基礎和底蘊深厚?！蓖跤陆榻B，早在20世紀50年代，學貫中西的大學者吳宓就在西南師范學院（現西南大學）首倡對中希兩大文明進行比較研究，奠定了在此領域的傳統。西南大學的希臘哲學和希臘歷史研究比翼雙飛，享譽學界。進入新世紀以來，專門設立了希臘研究中心，并成為教育部國別區域研究（備案）基地。

同時，還有其時代背景。2011年3月，我國的第一列中歐班列（渝新歐）從重慶開往歐洲，開啟了重慶內陸開放的新篇章。隨著國家共建“一帶一路”倡議和西部陸海新通道建設的實施，擁有獨特區位的重慶站在了開放的前沿。

在王勇看來，西南大學積極對接國家戰略、勇于擔當作為也是一個重要原因?！拔髂洗髮W從2020年6月就開始籌劃設立一個推動中希兩國文明互鑒的平臺，落實兩國元首達成的共識。三年間，積極協調各方，擬寫多版設計方案，召開幾十次在線會議，互通幾千封郵件，付出了大量心血?！?/p>

“西南大學將積極落實習近平主席復信精神，按照重慶市委、市政府的要求，投入資源，與中方三校和希臘四校密切合作，調動社會各界力量，將中心建成中希文化交流的旗艦型平臺和世界文明互鑒的示范性高地?！蓖跤卤硎?，下一步，中心將持續開展學術研究和推廣、國際聯合人才培養和高水平中外人文交流工作，將“數字化”融入到各項工作中，助力中心的高質量發展。

“中心還將實施一攬子計劃，積極融入新時代新征程新重慶建設?！蓖跤陆榻B，將與重慶聯合打造“文明互鑒”品牌論壇，啟動“文明互鑒”國際學者項目，推出“陸海敘事”系列學術文化產品，申辦《文明互鑒》學術期刊；在做好“中國—希臘文明比較”國際聯合碩士培養工作的同時，牽頭啟動國際事務聯合碩士項目和區域國別學一級學科博士點的申報；繼續推動重慶和希臘之間的人文交流和經貿往來，為重慶打造落實“全球文明倡議”先行城市作出新貢獻。

圖/受訪者提供