Visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National
People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo held talks in Athens on Tuesday
with Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki, focusing on
Sino-Greek relations and exchanges between the two
legislatures.
Benaki said Greece attached great importance to the development
of its relations with China, paid attention to China's development,
and admired the achievements made by China in its modernization
drive.
The Greek parliament is willing to boost Greek-Chinese friendly
relations through cooperation and exchanges between the two
legislative bodies at all levels, in every aspect, Benaki said.
She added that the Greek parliament and herself had been
awaiting Wu's and his delegation's visit with great interest.
For his part, Wu said his visit to Greece would maintain the
momentum of high-level visits, promote mutual understanding and
trust, and increase the practical cooperation in the fields of
trade, tourism, culture, education and the Olympic Games between
the two countries.
He said Sino-Greek relations had developed very smoothly in the
past 34 years.
The two legislatures are able to enrich and invigorate the
comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Greece by
strengthening coordination in international and regional
parliamentary organizations, and by exchanging the know-how of
democracy, legislation and administration.
Before their talks, Wu was awarded the Medal of Honor of the
Greek Parliament by Benaki.
Wu arrived here on Monday for his first four-day official visit
to Greece, the third leg of his four-nation tour, which will next
take him to Russia. He has already visited Romania and Moldova.
(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2006)