Mr. President, welcome to Greece. It is a great pleasure to see you again for a second time within a few days.
I believe that my recent visit to Shanghai as well as yours today to Greece mark a new era in our relations. I think that it has been clear to both of us that Greece and China can have many benefits resulting from the strategic advantages that one country can secure for the other.
Mr. President, Greece recognises China not only as a major power but also as a country that gained, not easily, a leading geostrategic, economic as well as a political role.
Seventy years following the establishment of People’s Republic of China and 40 years after the launching of important reforms and opening of China, I believe that you have every reason to be proud of what you have achieved.
Today, we will have the opportunity, later on, to discuss in detail the whole context and spectrum of our bilateral relations which will also be reflected in the signing of 16 bilateral agreements on many sectors of mutual interest.
Mr. President, with these thoughts in mind I want to welcome you once more to sunny Athens. I wish you have a good stay and I think that this visit will be an important milestone in the further deepening of our bilateral relations.
Statement of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during joint statements with the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping
Ladies and gentlemen,
I believe that I represent all Greeks by stating that I am particularly glad to welcome our friend, the President of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, to our sunny country. Because what was seen a few days ago in Shanghai is also confirmed in Athens: that the relations between both states are warmest than ever. Our trust is certain. And our collaboration is open to many, new productive horizons.
Besides, our people are bearers of great ancient civilisations that sealed the course of humanity.
And this special relationship, which was welded throughout the centuries, was referred to by President Xi in an article the previous day, when he reminded us of Kazantzaki’s words: “Confucius and Socrates are two masks that cover the same face: The brightest face of human logic”.
The first European book to be translated in China in the 16th century was Euclid’s elements. And with the same awe we stand in front of the masterpieces of our cultural legacy; whether it is an army of Terracotta warriors, vigilant guards of the grave of the first Chinese Emperor or the Charioteer of Delphi.
Nevertheless, our civilisations assume now a rare and valuable role: To pass on justice, measure and -dare Ι say- harmony in the troubled international relations of our times. To counter their timeless wisdom to the rigour of contemporary problems and, thus, lead to peaceful, mature and fruitful answers to the global challenges of the 21st century.
Mr. President and I had once more a highly productive discussion regarding the international as well as our bilateral issues. I expressed our appreciation to him once more for China’s support when Greece was suffering from the economic crisis.
And Ι cannot hide that I am glad because now that our country is developing again, it is assuming a leading role, a leading position, in the broader region and in Europe as a whole, not only do we remain partners, but also we extend our common goals.
This is what the event -allow me to call it like that-of the day marks: The signing of 16 government and business agreement between Greece and China at all levels.
We are opening a path. Soon it will become an avenue, as our bilateral collaboration will be significantly strengthened. A large part of our talks was dedicated to our bilateral economic relations. I am particularly pleased about the high appreciation the Chinese government has for the geostrategic location of Greece.
Today we will have the opportunity to visit together the facilities of COSCO in Piraeus. To see and take a closer look at the further development of this very important investment upon approval of the master plan by the Greek government. Our goal is common: To make Piraeus not only the greatest port of the Mediterranean Sea but -why not- the greatest port of Europe.
Besides, it is already becoming the most vital transit point between Europe and Far East.
Therefore, by activating the momentum of combined transport, Greece becomes a basic portal – the starting point- of the “Sino-European path”, both commercial and investment one. Not only to Europe, but also from Europe. As well as from and to Asia as a whole.
In the financial sector, we welcome in Athens the establishment of a China’s Development Bank office, the establishment of a branch of Bank of China as well as the setting up of an agency of the greatest bank worldwide, International Commercial Bank of China.
These comprise three extremely critical initiatives that further enable the Chinese investments.
We also ascertained the constant dynamic of our tourist exchanges.
We are looking forward to an important increase of Chinese visitors to our country. We jointly set a goal: To reach 500,000 Chinese visitors to Greece in 2021. In 2021, an extremely important year for Greece; 200 years from the beginning of the Greek War of Independence. And for China, 100 years from the establishment of the Communist Party.
Finally, we could not forget to refer to our cultural cooperation. Not only because the Educational Cooperation Programme and the Agreements between our Academic Institutions frame the Ancient Civilisation Forum, promoted by Athens and supported by Beijing.
But also because, in fact, in the “unofficial daily routine”, our bridges are reinforced at an unprecedented rate. Greek history is already taught in great universities of China. Whereas, Mr. President more and more Greeks are attracted by the fascination of the language and Chinese civilisation.
Thus, the Greek-Chinese cultural relations are a pathway to communication between two significant civilisations that left a unique in East and West. This pathway, in turn, becomes a silent but highly creative bridge of understanding between Europe and Asia, which is sought for nowadays
I am glad because the meeting with Mr. President will be repeated very soon, during my new visit to China, in April, to participate in the “Initiative 17+1” It is a multilateral collaboration between countries of Central and Eastern Europe with China, where Greece is in the forefront.
Last but not least, I want to welcome the protection of our six important national products, from feta cheese and oil to mastic and our wines, in the huge market of this friendly country, under the important EU-China agreement.
Greece has much to gain from the opening of the internal market of China. From the high-quality agricultural products and the marble to the Greek suppliers of marine equipment. Besides, more than 1,000 Greek-owned ships have been constructed in China in the last 15 years.
Welcome, Mr. President, to Greece and please convey the warm feelings of friendship of the Greek people to the Chinese people. Because we have yet a lot to discuss, must mostly a lot to do for the benefit of both our countries. Welcome again to our country.
