Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday hailed the development of China-Greece relations in his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
Wang said the relations between the two countries have maintained stable and healthy development despite the uncertain international situation, and he attributed it to the two ancient civilizations’ wisdom in viewing each other’s development with a calm and tolerant attitude and planning and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation from a long-term strategic perspective.
China is willing to work with the Greek side to build the Belt and Road Initiative with high quality, build Piraeus Port into a world-class port, accelerate the construction of the China-Europe Land-Sea Express and expand into new areas of cooperation such as renewable energy, he said.
Mitsotakis said Greece attaches great importance to developing relations with China and has never agreed with anti-China or Sinophobic arguments.
He said the Greek side highly appreciates China’s achievements in environmental protection and is willing to expand cooperation in green development and science and technology innovation to jointly address global challenges such as climate change.
On China-Europe relations, Wang said there is no fundamental conflict of interest or geopolitical conflict between China and the continent, adding that both sides are partners, not adversaries, and their cooperation far outweighs their differences.
Mitsotakis said the Greek side supports the EU in developing friendly relations with China and believes that the two sides can achieve healthy, long-term bilateral development through communication and exchanges.
Wang Yi also met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Wednesday.
China expects to further consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, and deepen practical cooperation with Greece, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his visit to Greece.
By doing so, China and Greece will set an example for the international community of mutual respect and equal treatment between countries of different sizes, solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit among countries with different systems, and exchanges, mutual learning and common development among countries with different cultures, Wang said during the visit at the invitation of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
This will demonstrate to the international community that China and Greece are committed to developing comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said in a written interview with Greek newspaper Ta Nea (The News).
China is confident to work with the international community to host a “simple, safe, and wonderful” Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Wang said, adding that China welcomes Greek athletes to actively participate in the Winter Olympics.
Wang noted that from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Greece has been actively supporting the Olympic cooperation between the two countries and jointly opposing the politicization of sports.
As an outstanding achievement of China-Greece maritime cooperation, China’s COSCO Shipping investment in Greece’s Piraeus Port has become a model for China-Greece and China-EU cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road, he said, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, the Piraeus Port has rapidly developed into the largest port in the Mediterranean area and has made positive contributions to the economic development of Greece.
Moreover, China will accelerate the expansion of oil tanker terminals and other key projects, focus on energy conservation, emission reduction and digital construction, and continue to enhance the hub status and operational capabilities of the Piraeus Port, so as to build it into a world-class port with diversified development of both land and sea, Wang said.
As to the relations between Greece and Turkey, Wang said maintaining good relations between the two countries is conducive to regional peace and stability and conforms to the common interests of countries in the region and the international community.
It is delightful to see that both Greece and Turkey have recently expressed their willingness to resolve disputes through negotiations, Wang said, adding that China hopes that both sides will firmly grasp the general direction of promoting regional peace, stability and development, resolve historical issues and differences through dialogue and negotiations, so as to jointly boost the development and prosperity of the region.
As to the tripartite security partnership AUKUS, established recently by the United States, Britain and Australia with the plan to carry out nuclear-powered submarine cooperation, Wang stressed that this will inevitably bring about the risk of nuclear proliferation and may trigger a new round of arms race, which will cast a shadow on the peace, stability and development of the region, and cause adverse impact to shipping safety. Therefore, the international community should jointly oppose it, he added.
Both China and Greece are countries of ancient civilizations, Wang said, adding that he believes that the two countries have the wisdom and ability to develop bilateral relations independently without being interfered, and to play a greater leading role in the unity and friendship of all countries in the world. /Compiled by argumentum.al from wires
