Introduction: Mitsotakis asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to China's leaders. He said that the Greek side attaches great importance to developing relations with China and has never agreed with the anti-China and "China-fear" arguments in the international community.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on October 27, 2021 local time, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis met with visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Athens.
Wang Yi first conveyed the cordial greetings of the Chinese leader to Mitsotakis. Wang Yi said: China and Greece are the source and representative of the two major civilizations, the East and the West, and the people of the two countries have friendly feelings toward each other. The reason why China-Greece relations can maintain stable and healthy development in the turbulent and uncertain international situation is that we can all draw wisdom from the nourishment of the millennium civilization, look at each other's development with a peaceful and inclusive mindset, and be good at planning and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation from a long-term strategic perspective. This year, we officially launched the China-Greece Cultural Tourism Year, injecting new vitality into bilateral relations. A few days ago, the collection and transmission of the flames of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games was successfully completed in Greece, injecting positive energy into the Olympic spirit. China is willing to work with Greece to jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, build the port of Piraeus into a world-class port, accelerate the construction of the China-Europe Land-Sea Express, and expand new areas of cooperation such as renewable energy.
Mitsotakis asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to China's leaders. He said that the Greek side attaches great importance to developing relations with China and has never agreed with the anti-China and "China-fear" arguments in the international community. With the joint efforts of both sides, the cooperation between Belgium and Hong Kong has achieved great success and created a win-win landmark cooperation project. The Greek side is willing to take the launch of the Year of Cultural Tourism as an opportunity to continue to deepen cooperation in various fields between the two sides. More Chinese tourists are welcome to visit Greece after the epidemic is over. The Greek side highly appreciates China's important achievements in the field of environmental protection and is willing to expand cooperation in green development and scientific and technological innovation between the two sides to jointly cope with global challenges such as climate change.
Mitsotakis said that the Greek Chinese is broad and profound, has many similarities, and provides ideological inspiration for resolving today's geopolitical conflicts. This year, the Aristotle and Confucius Philosophy Forum will be held in Greece, hoping to use this as a platform to deepen exchanges and mutual learning between the two major civilizations of the East and the West.
The two sides also exchanged views on China-EU relations. Wang Yi said that there is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU, there is no geopolitical contradiction, and both sides support the multipolarization of the world and the democratization of international relations, support the promotion of multilateralism, support the United Nations to play a central role, and support the political settlement of regional disputes. China and the EU are partners, not rivals, and cooperation between the two sides far outweighs differences. The two sides should revitalize China-EU relations through dialogue on an equal footing in the spirit of mutual respect, and hope that Greece will continue to play a constructive role in the stable development of China-EU relations. Mitsotakis said that Greece supports the EU in developing friendly relations with China and believes that the EU and China can achieve long-term and healthy development of bilateral relations through full communication and exchanges.
On October 27, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Greek Foreign Minister Dendías in Athens.
Wang Yi said that Greece is the first stop of this visit to Europe, which reflects the great importance that China attaches to Sino-Greek relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Greece have always adhered to the historical vision, conformed to the trend of the times, respected each other, understood each other, trusted each other and supported each other, and set an example of exchanges between different countries and civilizations. The two sides should continue to support each other's core interests and major concerns, further deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and promote new progress in the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang Yi said that Greece is an important partner in jointly building the "Belt and Road". The Chinese side is pleased to see that as a symbol of bilateral cooperation and a flagship project for jointly building the "Belt and Road", the construction cooperation of the port of Piraeus has been smoothly promoted, providing an important boost to the development of Greece. China is willing to continue to work with the Greek side to build The Port of Belgium into a world-class port with both land and sea and diversified development. The two sides should also continue to jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, step up the preparation of the implementation plan for intergovernmental cooperation, expand cooperation in key areas, and expand mutual investment. China welcomes Greek enterprises to actively participate in the China International Import Expo and hopes that Greece will continue to provide an open and fair market environment for Chinese enterprises.
Wang Yi said that the development concepts of China and Greece have many commonalities. Welcome Greece's active participation in President Xi Jinping's "Global Development Initiative" and jointly contribute to promoting the international community to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Dendíaz said that greece attaches importance to and agrees with the "global development initiative" proposed by President Xi Jinping. Dendíaz said that Greece-China relations have become closer and stronger in the joint fight against the epidemic. Greece is willing to continue to support each other and strengthen communication and coordination on international and multilateral affairs. The Greek side is satisfied and proud that the two sides have successfully completed the collection and handover of the sacred flame of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and jointly built the Bigang project into a successful model of Investment cooperation between Greece and China. The Greek side believes that China's future is unlimited and is full of confidence in the development of bilateral relations. Greece will implement the key cooperation projects of the "Belt and Road", look forward to continuing to expand cooperation with China in various fields such as economy and trade, energy, shipping, shipbuilding, etc., and welcome Chinese enterprises to continue to invest in Greece.
The two sides agreed to jointly hold the China-Greece Year of Cultural Tourism and strengthen local exchanges.
When talking about China-EU relations, Wang Yi said that China and the EU are partners, not opponents; they are collaborators, not competitors. China has always supported the development and growth of the EU, the EU integration process and the EU's enhanced strategic autonomy. China and the EU should adhere to mutual respect, exchanges on an equal footing, enhance understanding and manage differences. At present, we should especially guard against and prevent individual countries from challenging the one-China principle and undermining the attempts of China and the EU to achieve political mutual trust. Dendías agreed, stressing that EU-China cooperation has broad prospects and helps the EU become an independent and powerful international power.
The two sides also exchanged views on issues of common concern, such as Afghanistan, the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya.
On October 27, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with reporters in Athens after talks with Greek Foreign Minister Dendías.
Wang Yi said that China and Greece are not only mutually beneficial and win-win partners, but also like-minded friends. China-Greece cooperation has always been at the forefront of China-EU relations and has become a model for exchanges and mutual learning between countries with different cultural backgrounds and social systems. I am visiting four European countries, including Greece, to convey three clear messages to friends in Greece and Europe:
First, China hopes to work with Europe to carry forward the Olympic spirit. A few days ago, the seeds of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were successfully ignited in Greece and transported to China. I want to tell you that Beijing is ready, and we are confident to dedicate a "simple, safe and wonderful" Olympic event to the world. The Olympic movement originated in ancient Greece and revived in modern Europe, we welcome athletes from Greece and European countries to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, jointly carry forward the Olympic spirit of "unity and fraternity, fair competition and mutual understanding", and create a better future for mankind to be higher, faster, stronger and more united. The politicization of sport distorts the purposes of the Olympics and should be resisted together. Healthy and equitable physical education can enhance mutual awareness and understanding in different countries.
Second, China hopes to work with Europe to promote connectivity. The port of Piraeus in Greece is the flagship project of Sino-Greek cooperation on the "Belt and Road", creating a large number of jobs and income for the local area, and has grown into the largest port in the Mediterranean. As a model for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Greece, as well as the starting point of the China-Europe Land-Sea Express, it will become the hub of the third China-Europe trade corridor. The success of The Port of Belgium fully demonstrates that China-EU connectivity has great potential for cooperation and bright prospects for development. Greece is a maritime power, and China is willing to further deepen maritime cooperation with Greece on the basis of abiding by international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We are willing to deepen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with the EU's global connectivity strategy, enhance the level of Asia-Europe connectivity, stimulate the growth potential of China and the EU, and help the global economic recovery.
Third, China hopes to work with Europe to promote dialogue among civilizations. China and Greece are both ancient civilizations, and thousands of years of wisdom are an important foundation for the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations. China and Europe have been exchanging civilizations for more than 2,000 years, and historical accumulation is our greatest wealth. Different civilizations should respect and appreciate each other in order to have their own beauty and share the same beauty. In the face of the current uncertain and unstable world, China and the EU, as representatives of the civilizations of the East and the West, should strengthen dialogue and communication, promote understanding and mutual trust, dispel misunderstandings and doubts, and consolidate the political foundation based on the one-China principle. China and Greece have agreed to jointly build a research center for mutual learning among civilizations and promote cooperation in the "Forum of Ancient Civilizations", and we hope that more European partners will participate in it, jointly inject stability and positive energy into China-EU relations and international cooperation, and jointly make due contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.