Athens (TDI): China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has pledged to enhance the longstanding friendship between China and Greece, emphasizing mutual support and deeper cooperation during his official goodwill visit to the European nation from Wednesday to Saturday.
Zhao, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), held meetings with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Constantine Tassoulas, the president of the Greek Parliament.
In his meeting with President Sakellaropoulou, Zhao conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping and highlighted the steady progress in bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties over five decades ago, Xinhua reported.
He noted that the joint congratulatory letters sent by Xi and Sakellaropoulou to the inaugural World Conference of Classics underscored the shared commitment of the two ancient civilizations to fostering cultural exchange and mutual learning.
“Guided by the consensus reached by our leaders, China is keen to work with Greece in strengthening traditional ties, supporting each other on major concerns, and advancing shared cultural heritage,” Zhao stated.
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President Sakellaropoulou expressed her country’s commitment to fostering relations with China, emphasizing the deep historical and cultural ties that have set a global example of inter-civilizational dialogue.
She called for further collaboration in trade, investment, culture, and tourism to achieve mutual growth and prosperity.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Zhao reflected on the pivotal state visit of President Xi to Greece in 2019, which he said had opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.
“China is ready to consolidate political trust with Greece, deepen strategic communication, and promote high-quality cooperation in areas like trade, finance, and shipping,” Zhao remarked.
Mitsotakis Reaffirms Greece’s Adherence to One-China Policy
Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s adherence to the one-China policy and expressed enthusiasm for expanding partnerships in artificial intelligence, shipping, and cultural initiatives.
He praised the successful collaboration on the Port of Piraeus, describing it as a cornerstone of mutual cooperation, and called for enhanced dialogue between Europe and China to address global challenges such as climate change.
In discussions with parliamentary president Tassoulas, Zhao stressed the importance of strengthening legislative exchanges to facilitate cooperation in governance, ecological protection, and trade.
He also proposed closer collaboration on multilateral platforms to drive global peace and stability.
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Zhao’s visit included attending the launch ceremony of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens and touring the Port of Piraeus, a flagship project in China-Greece collaboration.
He also visited Crete, where he reviewed agricultural initiatives, further highlighting the potential for cooperation across diverse sectors.
The visit, marked by symbolic gestures such as Zhao receiving a golden medal from the Greek Parliament, reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to deepening ties and fostering a shared vision for a prosperous future.
