Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Evangelos Venizelos recently stated that during its tenure as the rotating presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2014, Greece will strive to advance relations between the EU and China, as this is in the interest of both parties.
In a written interview with Chinese media, Venizelos said that for the EU, China is both a friend and a strategic partner, and "Greece will strengthen economic and political relations between the two sides during its presidency of the EU in the first half of 2014."
Venizelos stated: "The EU and China are two powerful global economies, and both sides will benefit from opening their markets to each other. The China-EU leaders' meeting last month established a clearer roadmap, according to which both sides will deepen their partnership to jointly overcome the current crisis and meet the challenges of the new century together."
He said that in 2014, with the support of the international community, including China, Greece is expected to emerge from its severe debt crisis and restore economic growth, while strengthened cooperation between China and the EU will also promote the already very friendly economic partnership between China and Greece.