Athens: An international symposium on human rights wisdom in classical civilizations was held Thursday at the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens (CSCSA), aiming to foster mutual learning and offer insights for global human rights governance. Addressing over 50 Chinese and Greek officials, scholars, and media representatives, Baima Chilin, president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, emphasized that while interpretations of human rights may vary across civilizations, the pursuit of freedom, dignity, and well-being is a universal endeavor.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Baima Chilin highlighted the necessity of reflecting on historical perspectives to understand current human rights issues. He called for a global governance framework for human rights that respects diverse developmental paths, prioritizes the right to development, and promotes dialogue over confrontation. Chilin also underscored the importance of mutual learning among civilizations to advance global human rights causes and foster a community with a shared future for humanity.
Prokopis Pavlopoulos, former president of Greece, remarked that East-West exchanges on human rights surpass geographical boundaries and are vital to the evolution of global civilization. He noted that the wisdom of ancient Chinese and Greek thinkers continues to inform modern perspectives on human rights. Pavlopoulos stated the significance of revisiting history to discover methods for safeguarding human rights.
Lai Bo, minister-counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Greece, expressed China's readiness to collaborate with Greece to tackle shared challenges in international human rights and to encourage constructive dialogue and cooperation. Participants at the symposium affirmed the essential nature of human rights to global civilization and a universal goal, advocating for inclusive global participation to protect human rights and calling for a more equitable, just, and inclusive global governance structure.
Additionally, the symposium included a handover ceremony for the new CSCSA premises, marking the establishment of the first institution focused on classical studies founded by an Asian country in Greece. Co-hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, the Chinese Embassy in Greece, the CSCSA, and the Greece-China Association, the event also featured the launch of a themed exhibition and seminar titled "Opening the Gate to East-West Civilizational Dialogue," along with the release of significant Chinese achievements in scientific archaeology and cultural heritage preservation.