Ladies and Gentlemen
I would like to thank the co-organizers of today's event, as it serves as a prelude to the Exhibition on Science, Art, and Technology in Beijing, as part of the Greece-China Year of Cultural Exchange.
The presence of both sides in Athens, a city that symbolizes unity and cultivation in Science, Philosophy, and Art, sends a message of hope. It serves to encourage both Greece and China to innovate once again, in the 21st century, in the very same way that, for the first time in History, they innovated thousands of years ago, in the West and in the East. At a time when, virtually in parallel, the Ionian Philosophers and Chinese philosophy sought simultaneously, on different continents, to interpret the world. This constitutes the first historically verified achievement in dialogue between our two ancient civilisations.
Today, intercultural dialogue between Greece and China, more relevant than ever, can again contribute to the creation of proposals for the world which are centred around Man. Ancient Greek culture, as much as ancient Chinese culture, both discover and rediscover the importance of an anthropocentric approach, as well as the value of moderation for a better quality of life. Moreover, the constant search for moderation constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of nations.
For the Greek government, the diplomatic dialogue at the root of Ancient Civilisations constitutes a priority and a part of our broader strategic planning that is in progress.
At the same time, within the scope of conducting educational and cultural diplomacy with the goal of further strengthening the relationship between Greece and China, a diverse range of exhibitions will take place during this year’s Year of Cultural Exchange, reminding our younger generations of the timeless common experience that the two nations share.
As Greek and Chinese citizens of the 21st century, the present-day descendants of ancient civilisations, we can couple scientific reasoning for dealing with the challenges and dangers that our planet faces, as a whole, with the philosophical quest for harmony, as our common past has taught us. Simultaneous dialogue between our two civilizations can serve as our guide for the future.
Thank you.
February 22, 2017