The Greek people are eagerly expecting President Xi Jinping’s early visit to Greece comes true
Nov 10, 2019 ECCRD
November 10th, Mr. Xi’s private plane arrived in Athens. At the invitation of President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the top leader of the new type of powerful country in terms of size and openness, Xi Jinping’s visit from China to Greece officially initiated. A week ago, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was just invited to visit China to attend the second China International Import Expo (The 2nd CIIE).
The Greek-Chinese relationship is indeed at its best state in history. Less than half a year, the leaders of the two countries exchanged visits constantly. This is the sign of the rapid and vigorous development of Greece-China relations.
Both China and Greece are ancient civilizations and an outstanding representative of Eastern and Western civilizations. Although the two countries are thousands of miles away, the two peoples are always connected, and the friendship will never end. Greece and China’s relationship can be described as “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” The relationship between Greece and China has risen to the next level, and it has also played a significant role in maintaining regional stability and the development of the world economic system.
Half a year ago, on May 12-16, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the President of the Republic of Greece Prokopis Pavlopoulos, paid a state visit to China. Pavlopoulos, as the only invited European country leader, pointed out at the speech of the Asian Civilization Dialogue Conference that all civilizations are equal and true civilization respects diversity. China has made tremendous contributions to the exchange of world civilizations. We appreciate China’s efforts for the Dialogue of Civilizations.
In the keynote speech of the Asian Civilization Dialogue Conference, Xi Jinping pointed out that “If human civilization becomes only one color and one mode, then the world would be too monotonous and boring!” He emphasized that we should keep peace and respect, and abandon arrogance and prejudice. Promote dialogue of different civilizations and harmonious coexistence.
Mrs. Matiatou, the important pioneer and practitioner of contemporary Greek-Chinese friendship and the Chairwomen Euro Chinese Centre for Development and Research Center (ECCRD), said that “China recently held the second Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum, Asian Civilization Dialogue Conference and China’s second International Import Expo, three great international events that have a great influence on the whole world. This is very remarkable and impressive.” She pointed out that the friendship and cooperation between Greece and China conform to the well-being of the two peoples.
The cultural exchanges between Greece and China have been firmly established, and the dialogue between civilizations has lasted for a long time. At the China-Greece Local Government Friendship Dialogue held on the eve of the opening of the first “Belt and Road” International Cooperation Summit Forum (BRF), under the push of Chenggui Li, the Chairman of the Matthias and the former chief reporter of the Xinhua News Agency Athens branch, the Greek Ministry of Economic Development and the Local Government of China signed a memorandum of cooperation regarding the construction of the Sino-Greek Cultural Park project. This is another achievement of the talks between President Xi Jinping and the Greek Prime Minister who came to China to attend the "One Belt, One Road" International Cooperation Summit. It is also another large-scale influential project after the cooperative project of Piraeus Port. This is the first project that is based on the outstanding cultural advantages of Greece and China, and systematically constructs and displays the development process of the harmonious coexistence between Eastern and Western civilizations, filling the gaps around the world. It is a new platform not only for dialogues between the Eastern and the Western civilizations but also for expanding economic cooperation between Greece and China, between Europe and China or even around the world.
Every form of beauty has its uniqueness, precious is find your beauty and that of others; share the beauty and enjoy the harmony. Both Greece and China are in a critical period of rejuvenation. The cooperation project of Piraeus Port has become the flagship of the “Belt and Road” and provides a model for international cooperation. During the past six years since the Chinese President personally planned and proposed the “Belt and Road”, 123 countries including Greece and 29 international organizations have joined the “Belt and Road” cooperation. The idea of "building a community of human destiny", which was introduced in 2013 and written into the United Nations resolution in 2017, is also from the leader of the open-minded oriental country.
China’s wisdom and Chinese programs have become an important part of human harmonious development and global governance systems. Wenchao Zhao, a researcher and executive chairman of ECCRD, said that the great minds of the leaders of China and Greece, and the foresight of the thought structure are destined to lead the two countries to achieve a great rejuvenation again. He emphasized that the good Chinese-Greek relationship and the “Belt and Road” International Cooperation between China and Greece have brought the benefits of the two peoples beyond the bilateral level. The promotion of civilization dialogue will have a strong boost to the establishment of an open economy in Europe and China, and it will have broad implications for the world. Wenchao Zhao also said “to follow the trend of economic globalization, or to continually go against the trend of globalization, holding a unilateral and trade protectionism and wield a big stick? This is a structural problem.” International geopolitical experts, former Greek President Advisor Dr. kitsikis said recently that (the Greek and Chinese) respective strong cultures are a powerful basis for dialogue and economic cooperation among different civilizations.
Leading bilateral relations to be further promoted, expanding cultural exchanges and interactions, promoting civilization dialogue, and expanding the intent of China-Europe cooperation. President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Greece is of great significance to the establishment of the China-Greece and China-Europe open economy.
Article submitted by: ECCRD