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Message from Greek Ambassador

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40 years of deepening Greek-Chinese relations

Theodore Georgakelos, Ambassador of Greece to China

Greece and China celebrate in 2012 the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, established in 1972. This is a rather short period of time, when contrasted with the centuries-old history of our two countries, and can only be considered as a culminating point of the dialogue and exchanges between two ancient cultures that have spanned ages. This anniversary could not have come at a more opportune moment, as over the past four decades, the cooperation between Greece and China has flourished in many fields, including political, trade, shipping, education, culture, sports and tourism.

In the political domain, the excellent level of bilateral relations can be attested by the unimpeded deepening of the strategic relationship between our two countries, established in 2006, as well as the frequency of high-level exchanges. The reciprocal visits of Heads of States and Heads and Members of Government, in recent years, have boosted bilateral cooperation and have brought new impetus in the efforts to create shared value for the people of both countries. Traditionally, Greece firmly abides to the "One-China policy" and welcomes the achievements that China has accomplished in its peaceful rise and its unprecedented development, since Reform and Opening up. On the other hand, China has been a sincere friend, offering its solid support to Greece, during the turbulent times of the recent sovereign debt crisis.

There is a saying, common in our two countries, that the litmus test of any relation is if one comes to the aid of a friend in need. A prime example of this, illustrating the depth of the Sino-Greek friendship, has been the evacuation of more than 13,000 Chinese nationals from Libya by Greek vessels and their repatriation via Crete. The promptness of the Greek Authorities in dealing with the request of the Chinese Government and the sheer logistical scale of the operation, carried orderly and most importantly, without any human casualties, will serve in living memory as an imposing edifice of the bonds uniting our two peoples.

Moreover, Greece and China have quickly developed strong economic and trade ties. Official bilateral agreements on trade, investment, scientific and technological cooperation paved the way for mutually beneficial exchanges between the two nations.

Bilateral trade in goods and services has grown at a remarkable pace. China's accession to the World Trade Organization accelerated this growth and created a platform for a win-win cooperation between the two nations. The Greek shipping sector stands out as the most telling example of how both countries can benefit from harmonious cooperation. It encompasses activities of added-value to both Greece and China, namely the transportation of goods, as well as all operations involved in shipbuilding in Chinese yards.

In the investment sector, a significant number of Greek companies have invested in China in the past 20 years, creating jobs and fostering China's growth. China has also invested in the port of Piraeus and in the future, we hope that this trend will continue. COSCO's investment in the Port of Piraeus in 2008 has proved quite successful and profitable and serves as a beacon for Chinese investors who wish to tap the great potential of the Greek economy.

Scientific and technological cooperation is another sector to which Greece attaches great importance for future development. Scientific excellence and technological innovation will be the key drivers, both for Greece and China, in their way to transform their growth model. In this regard, there is a large pool of talented and high-skilled professionals and students in both countries that could benefit from the exchange of innovating ideas and create a nexus of scientific interactions.

I have always considered tourism as one of the fields, where Greece and China can enhance their cooperation and achieve mutual benefits. In the past year, the inauguration of a direct flight between Greece and China, operated by Air China, has considerably shortened the duration of the trip and is a concrete step forward. Another positive development has been the signing in 2011 of the Joint Declaration on Visa Facilitation for Chinese and Greek nationals. Greek Consular Authorities in China operating since within the framework of the Joint Declaration have implemented its provisions meticulously. To name but a few, a pledge has been set in place to process all visa applications in no longer then five working days, which by itself and on any account, has been unparalleled. Moreover, action has been taken to facilitate and increase people-to-people exchanges through the promotion of Greece and China as tourist destinations.

In terms of culture, I find that the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 have been two major events highlighting the enhanced bilateral relationship between our two countries. Greece, being the birthplace of the Olympic Games, has made a strong impression on Chinese people and has incited a genuine interest in Greek culture.

These two events were further complimented by the hosting of the Cultural Year of Greece in China, from September 2007 to September 2008, the product of a successful partnership of the two countries. The Chinese audience was given the opportunity to attend a very broad range of events covering the whole spectrum of arts, as well as to get acquainted with both classical and modern culture. This occasion has brought closer Greece and China, two countries separated by geography, but united in their long history, their distinct civilization and their moral values.

During my stay in China, I have come to find that the Chinese people have wholeheartedly embraced exchanges in the field of education, being deeply interested in Ancient and Modern Greek language, history, literature and philosophy. This interest and curiosity that motivates one to get to know and understand the other's culture goes both ways: new departments of classics and of Greek language are being founded in Chinese universities, while Confucius Institutes are set up in Greece.

The ever-deepening relationship between Greece and China is expanding into new fields, year after year. I am very optimistic about its future, as it has been built on firm ground and solid foundations: a warm and sincere friendship between the Greek and the Chinese people, a reciprocal respect, a common understanding and the pursuit of mutual benefit. We remain firmly committed to further enhance the political, economic, educational and cultural ties between our two countries.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Hellenic Republic and the People's Republic of China I would like to express my warmest wishes to the Chinese people. May Greece and China celebrate many more anniversaries, such as this, in the years to come!

Theodore Georgakelos

Ambassador of Greece to China