习近平复信希腊学者

近日，国家主席习近平复信雅典大学维尔维达基斯教授等希腊学者，祝贺中希文明互鉴中心成立。

习近平指出，中华文明源远流长，古希腊文明影响深远。2000多年前，中希两大文明在亚欧大陆两端交相辉映，为人类文明演进作出了奠基性的重大贡献。现在，两国建立中希文明互鉴中心，致力于推动中希文明交流互鉴、促进各国文明发展，具有十分重要的历史和时代意义。

习近平强调，在人类历史的漫长进程中，各民族创造了具有自身特点和标识的文明，共同构成人类文明绚丽多彩的百花园。各种文明是各民族历史探索和开拓的丰厚积累，也是今天各民族生存和发展的深层指引。我们要促进人类社会发展、共同构建人类命运共同体，就必须深入了解和把握各种文明的悠久起源和丰富内容，让一切文明的精华造福当今、造福人类。相信中希文明互鉴中心一定能在这方面大有作为。

习近平指出，知古鉴今，继往开来。历史充分证明，只要坚持兼容并蓄、开放包容，人类文明就能不断发展繁荣。当今世界正面临百年未有之大变局，化解人类面临的突出矛盾和问题，需要依靠物质的手段攻坚克难，也需要依靠精神的力量诚意正心。中希文明蕴含的价值观、世界观、宇宙观、人生观、科学观、文化观等博大精深、历久弥新，一定能够为人类破解时代难题、推动构建人类命运共同体提供重要的精神指引。

2019年习近平主席对希腊国事访问期间，同希腊领导人共同倡导文明交流互鉴。访后，双方积极落实领导人共识，筹建中希文明互鉴中心。日前，雅典大学维尔维达基斯教授等5位希腊学者联名致信习近平主席，畅谈对习近平主席倡导的文明理念的高度认同，介绍中心筹备情况和发展规划。2月20日，中希文明互鉴中心成立仪式在雅典大学举行。

Xi extends congratulations over founding of institute dedicated to mutual learning between Chinese, Greek civilizations

Chinese President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from Professor Stelios Virvidakis of the University of Athens and four other Greek scholars recently, extending congratulations over the founding of the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations.

Hailing the long history of the Chinese civilization and profound influence of the ancient Greek civilization, Xi said in the letter that more than 2,000 years ago, the two civilizations shone brightly on the two ends of the Eurasian continent, jointly making a fundamental contribution to the evolution of human civilization.

Now, it is of great historical and contemporary significance for the two countries to establish the center, which is committed to promoting exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations and promoting the development of civilizations of various countries, said Xi.

Xi stressed that in the long course of human history, various nations have created civilizations with their own characteristics and symbols, which jointly form a colorful garden of human civilization.

Civilizations are the rich accumulation of the historical exploration and also an underlying guide to the survival and development of the nations, he said.

In order to promote the development of human society and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, we must deeply understand and grasp the age-old origins and rich contents of different civilizations and let the essence of all civilizations benefit the present generation and all mankind, he said.

Xi said he believes that the center will certainly make a great contribution in this regard.

Xi pointed out that people can know the present by making references to the past and they often carry forward the undertakings of the predecessors to open up a new path for the future.

History has amply proved that human civilization can continue to thrive and prosper by sticking to inclusiveness and openness, the Chinese president said.

The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Xi said, adding that to solve outstanding contradictions and problems facing the mankind, it is necessary to rely on material means to overcome difficulties and rely on the strength of the spirit to rectify mind through thinking with sincerity.

The values, as well as views of the world, universe, life, science, and culture contained in Chinese and Greek civilizations are profound and timeless, and are sure to provide important spiritual guidance for mankind to solve the problems of the times and promote the building of a community with a shared future.

During his state visit to Greece in 2019, Xi and the Greek leaders jointly advocated exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. After the visit, the two sides actively implemented the consensus of the leaders and made preparations for the establishment of the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations.

A few days ago, five Greek scholars, including Professor Virvidakis, wrote a joint letter to Xi, in which they expressed in great length their high recognition of the concept of civilization advocated by Xi and introduced preparations and development plans of the center.

The center was launched on Monday at the University of Athens.