Sound bites

Classical studies, both in China and in the West, have the historical responsibility of connecting the past and today, and therefore, are not only the "study of antiquity", but also learning about today.

Liu Xiaofeng, professor at School of Liberal Arts, Renmin University of China

There are some misconceptions that the ancient world doesn't concern us anymore, because we are moving forward, and what happened back then is of no importance for today. No, it is important, because some of the deepest, most profound truths about life have been said and formulated by the ancients, whether of the West or of the East. So we have to gain them from studying ancient wisdom.

Theodoros Papangelis, head of the delegation of the Academy of Athens, Greece

If you only know about China or Greece, you will never know what is particular and special about either one, and what it shares with other civilizations.… For our shared future, we must understand and inspire one another.

Martin Kern, professor at Department of East Asian Studies, Princeton University