Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Greek counterpart, Karolos Papoulias have agreed to lift the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height.

Hu called for efforts to enhance political mutual trust, maintain high-level contacts and expand non-governmental exchanges.

The Chinese leader also expressed hope that Greece will continue to play an active role in advancing China-Europe ties in the framework of the European Union. Hu suggested that the two sides expand cultural exchanges to strengthen the friendship between the two nations that both boast ancient civilizations.

Papoulias said he was pleased to see that Athens and Beijing hosted the two first Olympiads in the new century. He said he is encouraged to see that China will continue to take measures to achieve trade balance with Greece. And he also said China's stance at the G20 summit showed China's willingness to tackle the financial crisis along with the international community.

The two presidents also witnessed the signing of a quarantine agreement specifically regarding plants.

Greece is the last leg of President Hu's five-nation trip. Earlier, he attended the G20 summit on financial markets and the world economy in Washington. And he paid state visits to Costa Rica, Cuba and Peru, where he also attended the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting in Lima.

(CCTV November 25, 2008)