Ionian University and Beijing Language and Culture University - International intercultural journeys "ThinC - Thinking Inter-culturally Journeys"

Headed by the Rector Professor Andreas Floros, the delegation of the Ionian University returned to China, in the framework of the institution's extroversion and the joint action of the Beijing Language and Culture University / World Sinology Center under the title "ThinC - Thinking Inter-culturally Journeys". The team of the Ionian University included the Director of the Hellenic Sinology Center of the I.U. Professor Stavros Katsios and the Executive Director of the same Center Dr. Elena Avramidou, Professor Stefanos Vlahopoulos, member of the Executive Committee of the "UNESCO Chair on threats to cultural heritage and heritage-related activities", the legal advisor of the I.U. Dr. Spyros Dragomanovic and the associate of the Rectorate of the Mrs. Mari Kosmarikou.

The program of the first day of the visit included a tour of Laixi city to points of interest that highlight the great tradition of the place in the field of agricultural production and culture. In addition, a visit to Qingdao and the facilities of the World Sinology Center took place, where the IU team met with academic partners and friends.

The main event of the second day of the visit to China was the organization of the symposium of academic dialogue entitled "Sino-Greek Civilization in Classics", which took place at the premises of the World Sinology Center.
The symposium was preceded by a visit of the IU team to the Poli Market and a visit to the 2nd High School of Qingxi, meeting students with their teachers and developing a special dialogue on the necessity, opportunities and challenges of intercultural understanding. 

The delegation of the Ionian University met with the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security of the Government of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Li Zhong, on January 13, 2025, at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in Beijing. 

After the visit of the delegation of the I.PΘ to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, a visit to the Greek Embassy in Beijing followed, where the Greek Ambassador Mr. Eugenios Kalpyris was briefed by the Rector Prof. Andreas Floros and the professors Mr. Stavros Katsios and Mr. Stefanos Vlachopoulos on the activities of the Hellenic Sinology Center and the launch of joint postgraduate programmes in cooperation with the Beijing University of Language and Culture and the World Sinology Center.