Achilles Tsaltas, president of the Democracy and Culture Foundation, shared his perspectives on Confucianism and China-Europe relations in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Tsaltas runs the Athens Democracy Forum, which has been convened since 2013 and aims to serve as a guiding beacon for democracy and societal reorientation.
The forum includes a session called the Confucius-Socrates dialogue, where scholars from China and Europe discuss current challenges that the world is facing from the Confucian and the sectarian prisms.
In the interview, Tsaltas described Confucianism as anti-chaotic and anti-egoic rather than anti-democratic, and suggested democracy could embrace enlightened hierarchy.
"What we have found and what I have heard, the deductions that I've made from all these discussions is that Confucianism, which in some parts of the world west is portrayed to be anti-democratic, Confucianism is not really anti-democratic, Confucianism is probably anti-chaotic, it's anti-egoic, which tends to the characteristics of democracy at the moment," said Tsaltas.
"But democracy should certainly look at the principles and the teachings of Confucius, and democracy could probably do with a little bit more trust in hierarchy as long as that hierarchy is enlightened and a little bit more trust in the authority," he said.
Tsaltas observed that European youth, seeing through biased media reports, are more open to China, making him optimistic about future relations.
"Because the system in Europe is just so challenged and because young people are smart enough to see through the one-sided view, I guess, that goes on in media. They are now questioning this and they are more open to the Chinese system and Chinese people," said Tsaltas.
"I hold some optimism for the future in terms of the relationship between China and Europe deepening, and it's very heartening that you do mention youth in this interview because I think the youth is the ones that should guide us to the future," he said.
Greek expert shares views on Confucianism, China-Europe relations
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, said on Monday that the relationship between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stands at a new historical starting point.
Xi arrived in the DPRK capital of Pyongyang earlier on Monday to begin a two-day state visit at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, marking his first trip to the country in seven years.
Delivering a speech at a welcome banquet hosted by Kim, Xi pointed out that China and the DPRK, linked by mountains and rivers and sharing a common future, have seen their traditional friendship passed down across generations and grow ever stronger over time through the test of the evolving international landscape.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and the China-DPRK relationship stands at a new historical starting point, Xi said, noting that he has reached important consensus with Kim during his visit.
From the strategic perspective of the future and destiny of socialism, both leaders have agreed to seize the general trend of the times, respond to the shared aspirations of the two peoples, strengthen high-level exchanges, deepen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people bonds, promote the high-level development of China-DPRK relations, jointly open up brighter prospects for the socialist cause of both countries, and contribute to the continuous progress of human society, Xi said.
The successful convening of the Ninth Congress of the WPK this year has made strategic plans and major arrangements for the long-term development of the Party and the country's cause, ushering in a new period of comprehensive development of the DPRK's socialist cause, Xi said.
As good neighbors, good friends and good comrades, the Chinese side sincerely wishes that, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the WPK headed by General Secretary Kim, the DPRK people will successfully accomplish the goals and tasks set by the Ninth Congress of the WPK and make constant new achievements in the socialist cause of the DPRK, Xi said.
On behalf of the WPK, the government and the people of the DPRK, Kim extended the warmest welcome to Xi on his visit. Kim said that Pyongyang was filled with an atmosphere of friendship on this special day as the DPRK's Party, government and people warmly welcomed their most distinguished guest.
Noting that Xi's first overseas trip of the year had brought him to the DPRK, Kim said this fully demonstrated the great importance Xi attached to developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, and constituted the most valuable support for the DPRK's socialist cause.
Noting the meeting with Xi came nine months after their previous meeting, Kim said that during this meeting, they reached important consensus on further advancing DPRK-China relations with new contemporary connotations in light of new changing circumstances, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, which will surely accelerate the development of the DPRK-China friendship with profound historical traditions, and contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world.
The DPRK people take heartfelt joy in the remarkable achievements made by the brotherly Chinese people, Kim said, expressing belief that under the leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the great Chinese people will surely create greater achievements in building a great modern socialist country in all respects, realizing the Second Centenary Goal, and completing the new journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi says China-DPRK ties stand at new historical starting point
