Greece marks 52 years of diplomatic relations with China

Events have been held in Athens to mark 52 years of diplomatic relations between Greece and China, with the Chinese embassy in Athens hosting a gathering included several representatives from the shipping industry to discuss trade.

‌"We look forward to strengthening cooperation in the field of ship repair and ship building," China's ambassador to Greece, Xiao Junzheng, told CGTN. "The Chinese side is willing to increase finance support for Greek shipowners to build ships in China, and also encourages Chinese shipyards to give priority to Greek-produced ship accessories on the basis of market principles," he added.

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‌Officials and business representatives on both sides want to boost maritime trade cooperation, including the Port of Piraeus, a flagship of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Last year, the port processed over 5 million containers, up more than 3 percent from the year before, making it the largest port in the Mediterranean and the third-largest in Europe. 

"In the past five years, we see a very big increase between, China and Greece trading in terms of trading and in the new, in the future, as in both China and the Greece, they're moving toward, more green, a greener shipping," said Gan Shaowei, Acting Director of Wuhan Rules & Research Institute.

"We can have more operations for the green fuels, production, for example, in China, we'll have a lot of solar or wind power. And in, Greece we see there many, many greenfield demand."

China now manufactures more ships than Greece and many Greek shipping firms have their ships built in China. 

Greece is already a key shipping hub for European trade with Asia, and vice versa, and officials are keen to open up new sectors to Chinese investment.

A‌fter more than half a century of official relations and a decade since Europe's first Belt and Road deal, the two countries are hoping to strengthen their global connections, and set sail for more opportunities.

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