3rd World Conference of Sinologists Opens in Dunhuang, Northwest China
Lanzhou (ANTARA) - The third World Conference of Sinologists opened on Wednesday (3/6) in Dunhuang, a significant hub on the ancient Silk Road located in the Gansu Province of northwest China. The event brings together academics and cultural figures from around the world to discuss how Chinese civilisation can contribute to addressing various global challenges amidst increasing uncertainty.
Under the theme “Pooling Wisdom of Civilisations to Jointly Address Challenges of Our Times”, the event has attracted more than 300 delegates from approximately 70 countries. “Sinology originates from China, belongs to the world, and is the shared intellectual heritage of all humanity,” stated Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, a sinologist and former president of Ethiopia, during the opening ceremony.
“This event contributes to the construction of new and lasting bridges towards a world based on mutual trust, equal human dignity, empathy, and lasting peace,” said Tiziana Lippiello, Rector of Ca’Foscari University of Venice. She added that history, culture, and imagination converge across various centuries in Dunhuang, providing a deeply meaningful setting for contemporary dialogue.
During the conference, four sub-forums are scheduled to discuss topics including the global significance of China’s modernisation, the peace-oriented values embedded in Chinese civilisation, the historical evolution of Sinology and cross-cultural exchange, and the relevance of traditional Chinese philosophical thought in the contemporary era.
The selection of Dunhuang as the host city holds special symbolic significance. More than 2,000 years ago, this city served as a vital intersection on the ancient Silk Road, witnessing the movement of Chinese silk and tea to the West, as well as the introduction of various goods previously foreign to China, such as grapes, carrots, and pomegranates. To this day, Dunhuang remains a major cultural landmark, home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites and over 260 registered cultural heritage sites.