Xi calls for strengthening China-Greece practical cooperation

ATHENS - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for strengthening practical cooperation between China and Greece, as the two countries are seeking to consolidate their comprehensive strategic partnership.

China and Greece are both ancient civilizations, and should join hands to deliver greater benefits to their people and further contribute to human progress, Xi said during his talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The two leaders just met a week ago in Shanghai when Mitsotakis led a delegation to attend the second China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Statistics show that the transaction volume of Greek businesses at the expo grew by 2.5 times compared with that at the first CIIE one year ago, Xi said.

He pledged that China will unswervingly expand opening-up and stands ready to bring more opportunities to the development of all countries, including Greece.

Xi pointed out that exchanges of civilizations and mutually-beneficial cooperation constitute two main links in China-Greece relations.

On practical cooperation, Xi proposed that the two countries should focus their efforts on the following four areas:

First, the two sides should seek greater synergy between joint construction of the Belt and Road and Greece's strategy of building itself into an important international logistics transit hub.

Second, the two sides should expand two-way trade and investment, and enhance cooperation in such areas as electricity, telecommunications, manufacturing and finance. China is willing to import more high-quality Greek agricultural products and encourages more capable Chinese companies to invest and start businesses in Greece.