Athens and Beijing: A relay of sports, culture

The friendship between China and Greece dates back to antiquity. In the 5th century BC, the Greek physician Ctesias wrote a travel narrative recommending far-away China as the land of silk, naming it Seres.

He praised the inhabitants of this land and their longevity. Strabo's references in his Geography, four centuries later, were similar.

The people of Greece and China share a common destiny. They have a history spanning millennia, which bequeathed to them a very rich artistic tradition. It is a significant fact that of all the languages known to date, Greek and Chinese are the only ones still spoken after three thousand years.

It is this long historical tradition and the respect of one people for another that largely facilitate our cultural exchanges.

There is also to be considered the exceptional level of Olympic cooperation between the two countries.

It is in this context, and at a particularly significant conjunction of time and circumstances, that the Cultural Year of Greece opens in China -- an event that Greece considers particularly momentous on many levels.

It provides us with the opportunity to celebrate the ties between our two countries, the bonds that join us through culture. It offers Chinese society an indicative taste of Greece and Greek culture. We convey to our Chinese friends the message that the key to understanding Western civilization lies in first understanding Greek Civilization, and vice versa of course, the same applies to Greeks.

Moreover, through contact between the people of the two countries we create, by extension, new opportunities for even closer political, economic and tourism cooperation, with mutual benefits.

It is a particular honor to my country that the Chinese government assigned this particular period of time, which includes the Olympic Games, for the organization of this series of cultural events.

It is a period during which Beijing finds itself at the epicenter of international interest, with Greece having an important, prestigious and much publicized presence. We consider this as the utmost gesture of honor shown to the preceding organizer of the Olympic Games.

Thus, at a time when Beijing is reaching the climax of the pre-Games period, we are attempting with the Cultural Year of Greece in China to present the modern and diachronic character of Greek culture and Greece - a country where cultural values and traditions are deeply rooted in the consciousness and daily life of the people.

The Hellenic Center, a center for culture, will also operate in Beijing, its activities running parallel to the core cultural program. Apart from serving as an information center for the events of the Cultural Year, it will also host theme exhibitions, conferences and other activities in cooperation with the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board and the Greek National Tourism Organization. This is a significant portal of communication between the two countries.

The scope of the overall project reveals in the most eloquent manner the significance attributed by Greece to this effort and to the significance attached to the strengthening of ties between the people of the two countries. Because, despite our geographical distance, we still feel very close to the Chinese people. More so during the present times, with the Olympic torch bringing us together.

And of course there is in progress a bilateral and earnest effort in this direction. Air China will start operating flights from Beijing to Athens in the immediate future, which is indicative of the growing bonds between our nations, making transportation between our two countries much easier and giving those who wish to discover the history and natural beauties of either nation an opportunity to travel.

We Greeks are particularly excited that Beijing is organizing the Olympic Games after Athens. The oldest civilization in the West passed the Olympic torch to the oldest civilization in the East. And Shanghai passes the organization of the 2011 Special Olympics to Athens. This is a true relay, a relay of sports and culture.

The author is Greek Culture Minister

(China Daily 10/18/2007 page19)