China and Greece: together for a better future

I wish to extend my warmest congratulations on the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Greece, which falls on June 5 this year.

As two ancient civilizations, China and Hellas had reached out to each other over the Silk Road as early as two thousand years ago. Thanks to the concerted efforts from both sides, bilateral cooperation has been vigorously expanding across a broad spectrum, since official ties were established in 1972.

The political trust has been deepening between China and Greece, promoted by the input of top leaderships through frequent visits and contacts. To name a few, the establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis's official visit to China in 2006, the exchange of state visits by President Hu Jintao and President Karolos Papoulias in 2008, official visits to Greece by Premier Wen Jiabao in 2010 and by CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin in 2011, and the visit to Guangdong by Vice President of Government Theodoros Pangalos in 2011. These contributed to better mutual understanding, strategic agreement and solid political foundations in bilateral relationship.

It is gratifying to note that our countries have maintained close coordination and supported each other on major issues in international affairs, which has enhanced mutual understanding and confidence. In particular, Greece provided invaluable assistance to China in the latter's efforts to host Beijing Olympics and evacuate citizens from Libya, which has become indelible memories to the Chinese nation.

Building on firm grounds, governments and enterprises of China and Greece have made important headways in trade and economic cooperation. COSCO Pacific investment in Piraeus Container Terminals has become a success story, in both commercial and social terms, creating hundreds of jobs for local Greeks. Bilateral trade amounted to 4.35 billion US dollars in 2010, up 18.4% year-on-year, according to Chinese customs. Fine Greek agricultural products are winning popularity among Chinese consumers, with wine and olive oil export to China stepping up 215.5% and 31.7% respectively last year.

Friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples have intensified, in the areas of education, culture, tourism and science and technology. The Year of Greek Culture in China was perfectly organized and well received, followed by the opening of Confucius Institute and dialogues between the Chinese and Hellenic civilizations that took place in Athens. Air China resumed direct flights connecting the two capital cities in May 2011, offering a convenient way of travel to tourists and businessmen. Chinese tourists' arrivals in Greece as their first leg in Europe were 17,000 in 2011, an increase of 52.2% over the previous year. Greece, with its glorious cultural heritage and picturesque sea and islands, is attracting more visitors from China. The ever closer people-to-people exchanges have not only become strong underpinning forces, but also directly contributed to the vigorous development of Sino-Hellenic relations.

China is fully confident that the Greek Government and people will be able to overcome the temporary difficulties. We are willing to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with Greece, enrich the substantive contents of bilateral relations, and strengthen the longstanding traditional friendship among the peoples. In this respect, there is much potential for the two countries to explore together in the areas from trade, tourism, shipping, infrastructure, renewable energy to financial services.

The Chinese nation embraces the Greek people as our true friends. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties, we reiterate our commitment to working closely with friends of all walks in Greece, for a better future.

                                                                                                                       Du Qiwen

                                                                                                      Chinese Ambassador to Greece

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