Dozens of scholars from China, Greece, the United States, and Australia gathered in Athens on Monday for a forum on epic studies, where they shared insights on preserving this important facet of cultural heritage and explored opportunities for international collaboration.

The conference was co-hosted by the Institute of Ethnic Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens. Participants engaged in discussions on the contemporary relevance of epics, strategies for safeguarding epic traditions, and ways to enhance cross-cultural communication.

Peng Jinhui, Vice President of CASS, emphasized that strengthening cultural exchange, deepening academic dialogue, and actively exploring how epics, as spiritual treasures of humanity, can be preserved and revitalized in the modern era are shared responsibilities for scholars and cultural practitioners worldwide.

George Didaskalos, Secretary General of the Greek Ministry of Culture, noted that both ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations have profoundly shaped philosophical and cultural development across East and West.

The conference, he added, not only deepens cultural cooperation between Greece and China but also encourages a broader dialogue on the lasting value of epic traditions and their role in humanity's collective heritage.

"This is an opportunity to understand each other better and to communicate more effectively," said Menelaos Christopoulos, emeritus professor of Ancient Greek Literature at the University of Patras in western Greece, in an interview with Xinhua.