During his visit to Beijing from October 14^th to 16^th to attend the Asian Political Parties' Special Conference on the Silk Road, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades also came to Renmin University, where he was appointed Honorary Professor. On this occasion President Anastasiades also gave a lecture on the topic of One Belt, One Road and Sino-Cypriot Relations. During the award ceremony, RUC’s President CHEN Yulu noted that the Cypriot head of state had long been a friend of China and the Chinese people. The ceremony and lecture were chaired by Renmin University’s Vice President YI Zhihong. RUC’s Executive Vice President, WANG Liming, Director of the International Office, ZHANG Xiaojing, Professor Leopold Leeb, who has taught ancient Greek at Renmin University for many years, and a number of other scholars and officials attended the event. CHEN made reference both to the ancient history of Cyprus and its more recent past; in 1971 Cyprus established formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. The two countries have in recent years had more and more incentives to cooperate on a larger scale, especially since President XI Jinping’s official announcement of the One Belt, One Road initiative in 2013. President CHEN reiterated Renmin University’s vision for global academic excellence and a strong international outlook. President Anastasiades in his address expressed a great deal of enthusiasm for One Belt, One Road, the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.” The President shared his views on the importance of trade routes that will not only connect countries economically but create avenues for cultural exchange as well as a basis for collaboration in research and development, poverty alleviation, and technological innovation. The challenges that the world faces today, including threats to global security and economic instability in many countries around the world, the President pointed out, can best be met when nations work with, not against, each other. He likened the One Belt, One Road initiative to the creation of the European Community, which strove toward a peaceful, prosperous, and united Europe. One Belt, One Road, it should not be forgotten, forms the continuation of the ancient prospect to connect Europe and China along the two-thousand-year old Silk Road.

CHEN Yulu’s talk with President Anastasiades before the public lecture gave them a chance to discuss academic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The lecture itself provided an excellent platform for students of different majors, whether foreign languages or international relations, to inform themselves and see what cultural diplomacy can look like in an academic setting.