China's top legislator Zhao Leji met in Athens with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his official goodwill visit to Greece from Wednesday to Saturday.
Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), also held talks with Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas during the four-day visit. At the meetings and talks, Zhao expressed China's commitment to advancing its relations with Greece and deepening cooperation in various fields as two ancient civilizations.
When meeting with Sakellaropoulou, Zhao first conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and good wishes.
Zhao said that both President Xi and Madame President sent congratulatory letters to the first World Conference of Classics held in Beijing earlier in November, advocating the inheritance and development of civilizations and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among them, which demonstrates the sense of responsibility of the two ancient civilizations.
China is willing to work with Greece to implement the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries as a guide, to be good partners with mutual trust and close civilizational bonds that seek common development, to jointly carry out the Global Civilization Initiative, and to promote the building of a community with a shared future.
Sakellaropoulou asked Zhao to convey her sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping. She said that dialogs on civilizations between Greece and China have a solid foundation and are fruitful, setting an example for mutual learning among different civilizations for the international community. She looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in trade, investment, culture, tourism and other fields to achieve common development and prosperity.
When meeting with Mitsotakis, Zhao said that China is grateful to Greece for its firm adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, and promote exchanges and cooperation with Greece.
China will also work with Greece to promote high-quality cooperation on the Piraeus Port project, continue to deepen cultural exchanges and maintain communication and coordination within the multilateral framework to promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations, he said.
Mitsotakis said that Greece adheres to the one-China principle. He hopes to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in trade, investment, shipping, culture and other fields, and welcomes Chinese companies to increase their presence in the Greek market.
Greece supports Europe and China to strengthen dialog and work together to address global challenges such as climate change, he said.
During the talks with Tasoulas, Zhao said that the National People's Congress of China is willing to work with the Hellenic Parliament to strengthen friendly exchanges between legislative bodies and learn from each other's legislative and supervisory experiences in social governance, ecological protection, and opening up.
Zhao introduced the relevant situation of promoting Chinese modernization and expressed his willingness to work hand in hand with Greece on the road of development and revitalization, so that the two ancient civilizations of China and Greece will shine with new brilliance in the new era.
Tasoulas said that China's great development achievements are inseparable from its profound cultural accumulation. The legislative bodies of the two countries can make greater efforts in legislation and other aspects to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Before the talks, Zhao was awarded the Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament by Tasoulas.
During his visit to Greece, Zhao attended the unveiling ceremony of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens, expressing his hope to deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and enhance friendship among peoples.
He inspected the Piraeus Port project, pledging to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and achieve win-win outcomes.
In the province of Crete, Zhao visited olive groves and production workshops. He said the Chinese side will promote cooperation at local level and in agricultural field with Greece and strive to achieve more cooperation results.
China's top legislator vows closer cooperation with Greece
