The Ethical Dialogue between Confucianism and Ancient Greek Philosophy was held on Nov 7 in Beijing, during which over 40 experts and scholars from countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, the United States, and China gathered to share their insights on ancient Eastern and Western philosophy.

The dialogue was supported by Shandong University and is also a part of the inaugural World Conference of Classics. It aimed to explore the commonalities and complementarities between Confucianism and ancient Greek philosophy in the field of ethics as well as the modern value of historical culture and classics.

Shandong University has always been dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and foreign countries, said Ren Youqun, Party secretary of Shandong University.

The dialogue, focusing on Confucianism and Ancient Greek philosophy, highlighted the vitality and relevance of these two great civilizations in contemporary society and provided valuable insights for addressing the challenges faced by humanity today, he said.

Ren also emphasized that Shandong University will continue to collaborate with universities and research institutions both domestically and internationally to initiate deeper and more extensive dialogues and cooperative research among multiple civilizations, building a bridge for communication and contributing to the development of world culture.

During the dialogue, Andrea Bréard, vice-president of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and Yang Chaoming, professor at the Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies of Shandong University, introduced the development tracks of Confucianism and ancient Greek philosophy, respectively, offering a new perspective on the intersection of these two philosophical traditions.

The World Conference of Classics, held in Beijing from Nov 6 to 8, was jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China's Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as the Ministry of Culture of Greece and the Academy of Athens.

Under the theme "Classical Civilizations and the Modern World", the conference brought together experts from around the globe to share their insights into ancient civilizations and discuss the evolution of knowledge and thought.

Attendees at the Ethical Dialogue between Confucianism and Ancient Greek Philosophy held on Nov 7 in Beijing. [Photo/Shandong University]

Ren Youqun, Party secretary of Shandong University, delivers a speech at the conference on Nov 7. [Photo/Shandong University]

Andrea Bréard (left), vice-president of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and Yang Chaoming, professor at the Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies at Shandong University, make speeches at the conference. [Photo/Shandong University]