ATHENS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China's assistance to the Greek people in the battle against COVID-19 is another good example of the friendship between the two nations, a prominent Greek shipping leader said on Friday.

"We are very grateful to the Chinese people for such help. As we say 'a friend in need is a friend indeed,'" said Panos Laskaridis, founder of Laskaridis Shipping Company Ltd. and Lavinia Corporation, in a written interview with Xinhua.

Laskaridis commended China for its quick response to the epidemic, noting that being the first nation hit by the virus, China should be admired for the resolute and firm way it recognized the risks of spreading the disease and the urgency to contain the virus.

China's harsh and swift actions to contain the virus have been rewarded with a rapid decline in reported cases and fatalities in recent days, he said.

The Greek people have been closely following China's battle against the virus and expressed solidarity with the Chinese people from the beginning, Laskaridis said.

"The Chinese presence in Greece today is greatly appreciated, especially as during the recent financial difficulties China invested heavily, showing solidarity and support toward us, at a time that such support from close allies faltered," he said, referring to the Greek debt crisis which broke out in late 2009 and brought Greece to the brink of bankruptcy.

During the years of the debt crisis, Chinese investments in Greece, such as COSCO Shipping's key investment in the Piraeus port, flourished, contributing greatly to reviving the ailing Greek economy, the Greek shipping leader said.

China is now helping Greece combat the current epidemic. Last Saturday, about 18 tons of medical supplies donated by the Chinese government, Chinese enterprises and organizations were handed over to the Greek government.

During a recent teleconference, Chinese experts shared their experience in fighting COVID-19 with Greek and other European experts.

Laskaridis believed that mankind will become more resilient due to the pandemic.

"In previous generations mankind has known much more dangerous and lethal epidemics and has always come out of them stronger and more resilient. I am sure the same will happen also in this case," he said.

"No doubt a lot of things will have changed when this epidemic is over. Mankind will have learned a lot of lessons especially as this has had worldwide implications," he said.

"An economic slowdown will follow, which will take time to correct itself. Importantly, this will give a strong impetus to medical research in the quest for both healing medicines and a vaccine," he said. Enditem

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