German Sinologist optimistic about China's AI future ③

Video by Lin Songtao

German citizen Helwig Schmidt-Glintze, a distinguished professor at the Eurasia Institute, one of Europe’s top three Sinologists, and a recipient of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award — attended the World Conference on Sinology 2025 in Shenzhen this June.

Emphasizing the significant progress China has made in AI development, Schmidt-Glintze shared, “We had the opportunity to discuss AI in the humanities with global scholars.”

Helwig Schmidt-Glintze is interviewed by Shenzhen Daily during the World Conference on Sinology 2025 in June. Lin Songtao

The professor described the meeting as both very important and highly useful. “The timing of this year’s conference fits the current situation perfectly,” he added.

“This is crucial because we don’t yet fully understand what the future holds,” he explained. “We know AI will play an increasingly prominent role, but the consequences are something we must carefully discuss.”

Speaking about Shenzhen, Schmidt-Glintze called the city “a legend.” “It is the Silicon Valley of China and a vivid symbol of China’s reform and opening up.”

He stressed the importance of Sinology.

“Chinese culture is a vital part of human civilization,” he explained. “It is essential for people from other cultures to understand Chinese culture and equally important for the Chinese to understand their own history, culture, and vision for the future.”

Schmidt-Glintze also reflected on global history, observing that Europe has largely shaped the world over the past 500 years. However, he believes that China’s contributions will carry even greater weight in the coming centuries.