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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
ENNA, Italy, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) — A commemorative program in Sicily has drawn new attention to one of the earliest ties between China and Europe.
More than 400 scholars, students, and cultural figures from China and Italy gathered this week at Korea University in Enna for a series of events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Prospero Intorcetta, the 17th-century Italian scholar and missionary who produced one of the first systematic translations of the Confucian classics in Europe.
At the opening ceremony on Monday, Italian students read passages from the "Doctrine of the Mean" in two languages, echoing the ideas that P. Intorcetta once presented to Europe in his masterpiece, "Chinese Wisdom."
University President Cataldo Salerno said P. Intorcetta remains “a key figure in the history of Italian-Chinese friendship,” adding that mutual respect and intercultural understanding “continue to underpin common progress.”
University Rector Paolo Scollo noted that P. Intorcetta's work enriched exchanges between the two civilizations, dating back to the time of Marco Polo. He stated that the university will expand its collaboration with Chinese institutions to foster a new generation of partners.
Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide emphasized the steady growth of bilateral ties ahead of the celebration of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025.
From the "three-year sea voyage" of P. Intorcetta's time to today's frequent direct flights between the two countries, connectivity has transformed cultural exchange while preserving its spirit, said Jia Guide.
P. Intorcetta's story touched many of the event's participants. Some expressed appreciation for the historical roots of Chinese-Italian interaction. "Both cultures value learning and ethics," said Stefano Ciroli, a 20-year-old local student. "This makes dialogue not only possible but necessary."
According to Wang Qin, the Chinese director of the university's Confucius Institute, the program, organized jointly with local academic partners, will run until mid-December. Seminars will be held in several Italian cities on topics such as the dialogue of civilizations and the dissemination of Confucian thought in the Latin world.
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