The 2023 Conference on China-Italy Cultural Exchange was held in Milan in October. It was co-hosted by Tsinghua University and Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI).
The event was organized by the following organizations: China-Italy Design Innovation Hub (CIDIH) of Tsinghua, and co-organized by the Office of Arts of Humanities and Social Sciences Administration, Tsinghua Arts and Design Institute in Milan, and School of Humanities of Tsinghua University.
The conference was graced by Peng Gang, vice president and provost of Tsinghua University; Giuliano Noci, vice-rector for China of POLIMI; Sergio Gaddi, Regione Lombardia Councilor; Yao Liangjun, counsellor of Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Milano; Angelo Corti Pedruzzi, member of the Board of Directors of Istituto Italo Cinese; Alberto Rocca, director of the Art Gallery of Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana; Deborah Agostino, director of the Permanent Lab on Digital Innovation in Cultural Institutions of POLIMI; Liu Shi, dean of the School of Humanities of Tsinghua University; Yang Yongheng, director of the Office of Arts of Humanities and Social Sciences Administration of Tsinghua University; Yuan Wei, general secretary of Tsinghua University Education Foundation; and Chen Jinxi, deputy director of Office of International Affairs and deputy director of CIDIH of Tsinghua University.
The conference was chaired by Liu Han, deputy director of the Office of Arts of Humanities and Social Sciences Administration of Tsinghua University. More than 70 faculty, students, and alumni from both Tsinghua University and POLIMI attended the event.
In his speech, Prof. Peng Gang said that China and Italy, featuring rich cultural resources and profound humanistic traditions, are renowned in the world for their long history and civilization. In response to the “Global Civilization Initiative” proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Tsinghua University and POLIMI have jointly initiated the conference to promote the exchange of excellent traditional cultures and civilization heritage and innovation between China and Italy. As one of the four overseas bases of Tsinghua University Global Strategy, CIDIH actively builds an international platform for China-Italy educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation. This year, CIDIH has held high-end academic forums with global reach, such as the 2023 China-Europe Design Innovation Forum and the 2023 Carbon Neutrality and Design Innovation Forum, and activities including the China-Italy Design Innovation Hub of Tsinghua University 2023 Summer Youth Forum – Echo of the Renaissance. As a Chinese proverb goes, “Only friendships built on sincerity can last long.” By citing the proverb, Prof. Peng Gang expressed his hope that the conference could make greater contributions to promoting heart-to-heart exchanges, cultural cooperation between the two countries and carry forward the common values of humanity.
In Dr. Yao Liangjun’s speech, China and Italy are both ancient civilizations with a long history of bilateral exchanges, which have strongly promoted the exchange and fusion of Eastern and Western civilizations and the continuous progress of humanity. Over the past five decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have carried out a lot of fruitful exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, science and technology, education, and culture. Inheriting the friendship between China and Italy and deepening the friendly and mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation in various fields is where the hearts of both countries lead to. Tsinghua and POLIMI are praised as world-renowned institutions of excellence. The conference is a concrete embodiment of the deepening of cooperation between the two universities by leveraging respective strengths, which will also play a positive role in promoting cultural exchanges and the mutual learning of Chinese and Western civilizations. Dr. Yao said that the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Milano would, as always, supports the cooperation and exchanges in science and technology, education, and culture between universities in the two countries, and looks forward to more fruitful results.
Mr. Sergio Gaddi expressed in his speech that design is the proudest discipline in Regione Lombardia and even in Italy, which has made important contributions to the exploration and beautification of the living environment for mankind. Under the advocacy of sustainable design, contemporary youth should continue to explore the connotation and potential of the design discipline. The strategic cooperation between Tsinghua University and POLIMI is crucial, which can support the development of the design discipline at the university level and contribute to the deepening of the friendship between the two countries.
In his speech, Mr. Angelo Corti Pedruzzi introduced the background and development of Istituto Italo Cinese. According to Corti Pedruzzi, printing brought knowledge to millions of people centuries ago. Nowadays, mankind has entered the internet age where speed has become the new pursuit of information dissemination. We are creating a better world in development through cultural and economic exchanges. As the conference will promote mutual understanding and connectivity between China and Italy, he hoped that participants could fully exchange development experiences and create a better future together.
Prof. Giuliano Noci noted in his speech that POLIMI is the oldest polytechnic university in Italy, which has long been focusing on the development of engineering, design, and architecture disciplines. CIDIH of Tsinghua is a model of cooperation between China and Italy and represents a long-term partnership between Tsinghua and POLIMI. Citing the Renaissance as an example, Prof. Noci pointed out that Italy and Europe have always been the center of cultural exchange in the world and emphasized that culture has the same important status in China. Prof. Noci urged the two universities to continue to promote cultural and innovative exchanges to make greater contributions to deepening their friendship.
Prof. Liu Shi delivered a keynote speech themed on “Digital Humanities and the Construction of Chinese Classics Knowledge Base.” Prof. Liu comprehensively introduced the results of research of Tsinghua University in digital humanities in the past five years and looked forward to the construction of the Chinese Classics Knowledge Base in the next five years. Prof. Liu put forward the concept of the “Chinese Classics Knowledge Base,” which will promote the transformation, upgrading, and academic research of ancient book arrangement and utilization, the renewal of knowledge production, and further advancement of thinking and paradigm in the humanities.
In his keynote speech, Prof. Alberto Rocca introduced the historic Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, which he said was originally built to provide Milan with a cultural center. Nowadays, Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana has not only collected a great number of valuable books but also had many top-level cultural and artistic works. The library’s continuing collection of Chinese works of art that had traveled across oceans has facilitated early cultural exchanges between the East and the West. Prof. Alberto Rocca also introduced Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana’s loan of Leonardo da Vinci’s manuscript “Atlantic Codex” on the occasion of the opening of Tsinghua University Art Museum. He expressed his willingness to make more contributions to the cultural exchanges between China and Italy.
Prof. Deborah Agostino delivered a keynote speech on “How to Manage Cultural Heritage to Provide an Effective Interaction between Cultures: The Role of Digital Innovation.” She pointed out that cultural heritage encompasses a country’s traditions and history, and that the application of digital innovation management models in cultural heritage can enhance the interaction between different cultures. Prof. Deborah Agostino presented the audience with innovative research results in cultural heritage, emphasizing that the digitization of cultural heritage will bring great changes to cultural heritage protection and cultural exchanges.
Prof. Chen Jinxi delivered a keynote speech on “China-Italy Cultural Exchange in Urban Design.” She pointed out that the urban design of ideal cities in China and Italy have significant similarities and differences. By comparing the historical outlines of ideal cities in different periods in China and Italy, Prof. Chen analyzed in detail the two countries’ cities in terms of layout, structure, architecture, etc., presenting a dialogue on the mode of human habitation that transcends space, time, and culture. Cultural exchange plays an important role in future habitat interior design for the Community with a Shared Future for Mankind.
At the conference, the top 30 works of the 2023 China-Italy Youth Fashion Future Design Competition were officially presented. Sponsored by Tsinghua University, POLIMI, and Keqiao District People’s Government of Shaoxing, the competition, with the theme of “Fashion· Evolution,” advocates the transformation of textile printing design, fashion design, and accessories design, demonstrates China’s self-confidence, openness, and inclusiveness, and jointly builds a new ecosystem for the future of fashion design.
The conference is supported by Shengtang Wenchuang Fund and Istituto Italo Cinese.
Editor: Li Han
