The World Conference of Classics 2026 is held in Athens, Greece this week under the theme "Dialogue Between Ancient and Modern: Contemporary Inspiration from Classical Wisdom." The term of classic studies is a relatively new academic subject in China and there are debates on its definition. Roger Ames is one of the most well-known American scholars on Chinese classics. I sat down with him at the Hall of Fame of Chinese Philosophers in Peking University in Beijing before he leaves for the World Conference of Classics.