BEIJING, June 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Daily: 

Retold for centuries, the story of Prometheus has evolved from a tale of power struggles into a symbol of revolution and enlightenment. In some interpretations, Prometheus, the Titan who stole fire from the gods, reflects tensions between migrant and local groups. Later, poets such as Percy Shelley recast him as a tragic hero who defied authority.

"The reason Prometheus remains widely known is that generation after generation has continued to tell his story. That process is important because classics provide intellectual resources that can inspire modern people. This is precisely the value of classical studies today," says Huang Yue, a professor of comparative mythology at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

Traditionally defined as the study, translation and interpretation of ancient Greek and Roman texts, classical studies have gained renewed momentum in recent years, particularly following the World Conference of Classics held in Beijing in 2024.

The second edition of the event is taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Athens, Greece.

Today, however, the definition of classical studies has broadened, particularly among Chinese scholars. Li Xinwei, director of Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens, says, "We believe that every ancient civilization has its own classical period, one that continues to exert a profound influence on its modern development …Therefore, the scope of classical studies should include the classical works of all civilizations."

The expanded definition raises a further question: Why do classics still matter in the modern world? According to scholars, ancient texts offer wisdom that remains relevant to contemporary challenges.

Lou Lin, a professor of classics at Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan province, reflects on the role of technology in shaping the modern world. "Strictly speaking, the modern world is largely defined by technology. It gives us the impression that humanity is constantly progressing because our material lives continue to improve," he says.

"But when it comes to complex questions such as human nature, philosophy and social order, it is difficult to argue that our understanding is deeper than that of people who lived 2,000 years ago."

One example can be found in Zhuangzi, a foundational Taoist text in ancient China. Philosopher Zhuang Zi wrote: "Heaven and earth are born with me; all things are one with me." The idea emphasizes the inseparable bond between humanity and nature.

In a world where many people experience isolation and alienation, Lou believes such reflections can help balance society's heavy emphasis on technology.

"That sense of disconnection can lead to genuine inner emptiness," he says. "The reflections on human nature and humanity's relationship with nature found in classical texts remain valuable today."

Beyond helping individuals navigate modern challenges, ancient texts also encourage cultural exchange and mutual learning.

In Timaeus, a book of dialogues written by ancient Greek philosopher Plato, Athenian statesman Solon travels to Egypt and discovers records preserving knowledge that had long been lost in Greece.

"They show how exchanges between civilizations can enrich one another's intellectual and spiritual development," he says.

Evgenios Kalpyris, the Greek ambassador to China, highlights the value of communication between Greek and Chinese civilizations.

"Historical records indicate that the earliest encounter between the Chinese and Greek civilizations dates back at least 2,400 years," says Kalpyris. "We have learned to seek common ground while respecting differences. We do not view differences as barriers. On the contrary, they can promote coordination and harmony. Differences create opportunities for remarkable outcomes."

Inspired by such lessons, modern societies increasingly recognize the value of dialogue among civilizations. One example is the establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens following the World Conference of Classics in 2024.

"In the past, Chinese researchers often relied on existing Western scholarship without access to firsthand materials," Li Xinwei, the school's director says.

"Therefore, we established this school to gain first-hand knowledge through archaeological research and the study of Greek civilization, including its history, philosophy and art. This will lay a foundation for further study. Only on that basis can equal dialogue with Western scholars generate new ideas."

The second World Conference of Classics is another effort to deepen exchanges among civilizations in a new era. He Fangying, director of Research Center for Classical Civilization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, hopes the conference will encourage further discussion on topics such as virtue, friendship, social order and technology.

"If the first conference in 2024 brought classical scholars to China, this time Chinese classical studies will be presented at the very birthplace of Western civilization. This is a milestone in the history of world civilizations," says He.

Contact the writer at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn 

Jiaozi Avenue, a key artery in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, hosted the 2026 Lantern Festival event themed "Full of Vitality, Chengdu My Home" on Tuesday evening, putting talents and enterprises center stage.

Since its inception in 2024, the event has been held three times on the avenue. This year's centerpiece was the 52,000-square-meter giant screen light show at the Tianfu International Financial Center's twin towers. Divided into three chapters, the show featured intangible cultural heritage elements and designs themed around the Year of the Horse.

Notably, a special "enterprise spotlight" segment was staged at the show, featuring inspirational mottos from nearly 50 key enterprises in the zone.

Beyond the light show, the event featured a concert where most of the singers and songwriters were from the zone's industries such as electronic information, biomedicine, digital economy and future science and technology. Artificial intelligence was used in the song creation and intelligent robots also participated in the concert.

For the first time, a recruitment drive was held during the event, with 91 enterprises offering more than 1,300 jobs online and offline.

During the Lantern Festival event, 1 million yuan ($144,982) worth of consumption vouchers were distributed. From Tuesday to March 31, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone plans to issue 20 million yuan in vouchers across 19 product categories, boosting consumer demand.

In addition to Lantern Festival, Jiaozi Avenue has become the premier choice for locals and tourists to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. At the celebration for welcoming 2026, over 200 sets of beam lights along the avenue complemented the twin towers' giant screen, showcasing the event's theme "Chengdu Lights Up for You".

A highlight of the celebration was when people's wishes were displayed on the twin towers. Over 600 wishes appeared on the massive screen, each reflecting love for life, visions for the future, and affection for the city, embodying Chengdu's passion, openness, and innovation. A countdown appeared on the towers as midnight approached on the last day of 2025, with 120,000 residents and tourists joining in to welcome 2026.

The vibrant lights of the New Year's Eve and Lantern Festival on Jiaozi Avenue are a vivid representation of the vitality and strength of the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. These celebrations, which integrate technology, culture and talent, are supported by the zone's robust efforts in advancing industrial development and fostering innovation.

At a recent work conference held in February, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone reported on its economic growth and development for 2025. The zone achieved a regional GDP of 366.2 billion yuan, reflecting a growth rate of 6.1 percent, and solidified its position as the core engine driving the city's economic expansion.

Meanwhile, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 114.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4 percent. The fixed asset investment hit 80.6 billion yuan, growing by 12.5 percent. Currently, the zone hosts more than 850,000 skilled professionals, including over 2,300 high-level talents recognized at national, provincial and city levels.

As the hub of Chengdu's development, the zone has established a modern industrial framework. The electronic information sector, for example, reported a 10 percent increase in the added value of industries above designated size, underscoring its role as an economic pillar.

Emerging and future industries are also flourishing. Milestones include the establishment of Ant Group's AI enterprise service headquarters with an investment of 3 billion yuan; three companies, including Koala Uran, being ranked among the top 100 AI enterprises by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and the launch of the world's first space computing satellite constellation.

While enhancing its industrial competitiveness, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone is accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces, with the number of national-level innovation platforms reaching 70. The zone also took the lead in establishing the pilot innovation cooperation network and developed landmark products like the Skywalker II humanoid robot.

This year, the zone will continue to prioritize high-quality development, aiming to enhance its appeal and strength. It plans to make breakthroughs in seven key areas, including national strategy services, economic stability, modern industrial system advancement and social welfare.

In terms of industries, the zone will refine the "3+6+6" modern industrial system and develop a balanced industrial structure with diverse support. For instance, in the electronic information sector, it will leverage leading enterprises to expedite the gathering of key upstream and downstream supporting projects. In the medical and healthcare sector, it will focus on new frontiers such as innovative drugs and cell and gene therapy.

Regarding social welfare, the zone will enhance its balanced and high-quality public service system, responding to the needs of residents at all life stages, particularly the elderly and children.

This year, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone will fortify its five core functions. These include acting as an innovation transformation hub, high-end industry leader, inland opening-up demonstration and park city showcase.

It will build high-level innovation platforms, achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, assemble top scientific research teams and innovative talents, and create new 100-billion-yuan industrial clusters focusing on AI and the aerospace economy.

In addition, the zone will accelerate the development of a new production model aligned with the requirements of new quality productive forces, as well as a modern governance system in line with the standardized development of new zones. It will also advance the integration of science and industry, institutional opening-up and in-depth reforms.