Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday met with the visiting Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

 

State Councilor Chen Zhili and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also met with Bakoyannis.

 

Bakoyannis's visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-Greece diplomatic ties.

 

"I wish to be present for the commemoration of our diplomatic stepping stone - our 35-year landmark. This is an important event for us and we wish to honor it as much as we can," she said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua before her China visit.

 

With about 30 entrepreneurs among her entourage, Bakoyannis chose China's economic hub Shanghai as her first leg of tour before visiting Beijing.

 

Bakoyannis took office as the first woman Foreign Minister of Greece in the government of Premier Costas Karamanlis on February 2006. She was elected Athens' first female mayor in October 2002.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2007)