Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's upcoming visit to China will provide an important opportunity for the two countries to advance bilateral relations, Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli said in a recent interview.

Tsipras is scheduled to visit China from July 2 to July 6. During his visit, a number of agreements are expected to be signed between China and Greece to boost cooperation in sectors of investment, finance, shipping, science and technology, culture, and tourism. The second China-Greece Maritime Cooperation Forum, which was initiated in 2014, will also be held during Tsipras's visit, according to official sources.

Zou believes the Greek Prime Minister's visit will be an important one against a profound background.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Greece.

Zou said such partnership conformed to the long-term and important interests of both countries and was assuming increasing regional and global significance.

Just prior to Tsipras's visit, Greek lawmakers ratified on Thursday with an overwhelming majority the landmark concession agreement with China's COSCO Shipping for the acquisition of a majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority.

Zou said the Piraeus project was a fine example of China-Greece cooperation, the significance of which went beyond economic cooperation and bilateral scope and had assumed great importance for promoting regional peace and development.

Greece is becoming an important knot on China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the Piraeus project has made Greece a key link between the Silk Road Economic Belt that links China with Europe through Central and Western Asia by inland routes, and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road connecting China with Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe by sea, according to Zou.

Greece is an ideal partner for China to carry out international maritime cooperation, according to Zou, adding Greece's experience and openness in marine-related sectors has made maritime cooperation between the two countries at the forefront of China-Europe cooperation.

The ambassador added that China was ready to make joint efforts with Greece in the following areas: First, to continue to render mutual support to each other on issues of core interest; second, to use maritime cooperation as a "dragon head" to lead to practical cooperation in various areas; third, to promote dialogues between different civilizations; and fourth, to enhance coordination and cooperation in the East Mediterranean and the Middle East. According to Zou, the four areas reflect the features of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries more than 40 years ago, Greece has rendered valuable support to China at crucial moments like the Beijing Olympic Games and the evacuation of Chinese citizens from overseas, Zou said.

It is fair to say that Greece has all along been China's reliable partner within the EU, said the ambassador.

Zou said China would like to see Greece continue to act as a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations. To step up cooperation between China and Greece in this area has global significance and value. Enditem

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