According to comprehensive news from WorldWay Immigration: Greek Prime Minister Samaras recently stated in an exclusive interview with reporters that the transit visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in July this year and the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in June confirmed the development momentum of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Greece and China. Greece is willing to be the bridge for China to enter Europe and hopes that the two ancient civilizations can achieve common rejuvenation.
Samaras stated that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and China 42 years ago, bilateral relations have continued to develop. The current comprehensive strategic partnership has a broader and deeper connotation. The common foundation of this relationship is the cultural mutual attraction, the similar paths taken over thousands of years, and the psychological connection based on friendship and respect.
Samaras believes that Greece is not only a partner of China but can also become a strong "link" between the European Union and China, as well as a "gateway" for commercial and cultural exchanges between Europe and China.
Greece is a natural commercial and maritime passage into the Mediterranean from the Suez Canal. To make good use of this gateway and passage, Samaras hopes that Greece and China will expand cooperation in ports, airports, shipping, railways, and other areas. The cooperation that began in 2009 at Greece's largest port, Piraeus, has been very successful and has yielded great returns for both countries. Currently, both sides are considering expanding cooperation, including Chinese investment in Greece's infrastructure, improving the conditions for Chinese products to enter the European market, and increasing the export of Greek products to China. All these cooperations are reshaping the Greece-China relationship in unprecedented ways.
Greece will soon establish its second Confucius Institute and will set up a Chinese Studies Department at the University of Athens starting in 2015. Samaras stated that building a "cultural bridge" between East and West will benefit the entire Western world in better understanding China.
As a member of the European Union, Greece is willing to play a constructive role in further bridging the relationship between Europe and China. Samaras expressed that he will make every effort to eliminate barriers in the economic and trade relations between Europe and China, believing that Europe and China can strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in business through balanced and honest negotiations.
Greece, with its numerous historical sites and natural beauty, is a highly attractive tourist destination. Samaras stated that Greece is currently taking measures in terms of visas, flights, and tourism services to attract more Chinese tourists.
He also mentioned that as a member of the Eurozone, Greece has undergone extensive reforms over the past two years and is now emerging from a severe economic crisis, releasing its growth potential, making it the right time to advance Greece-China cooperation.
In Samaras's view, Greeks and Chinese share two important commonalities: first, they are both very proud of their cultures; second, they are both ambitious about their future growth prospects. Therefore, he believes that the bilateral relationship between Greece and China will be vibrant and fruitful; both nations will surely succeed.
He stated that Greece and China "are indeed very different in terms of geographical location and national size, and the development trajectories of the two countries are also different, but if these two ancient civilizations can come closer today, the impact is likely to transcend the distance between us."
WorldWay Immigration Editor
