China is willing to expand cooperation with Greece in the areas of transportation, energy, finance and the digital economy, promoting flagship projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on the sidelines of the ASEAN-plus Foreign Ministers' Meetings in Cambodia from Wednesday to Friday.

The Chinese Foreign Minister said that China is willing to share development and market opportunities, and that it will support and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Greece. Wang also expressed the hope that Greece can provide a favorable business environment.

Wang said that China is willing to increase the number of direct flights between the two countries in an orderly manner, in a bid to provide greater convenience for travelers and boost tourism cooperation between the two sides.

For his part, Dendias said that Greece and China have established a comprehensive strategic partnership with mutual respect and understanding. Greece attaches great importance to the vital influence of China in international affairs, highly values the positive contribution of China to the global economic recovery and human civilization, and is grateful for the firm support given by China during Greece's difficult times.

Greece is willing to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, expand exports to China and welcome Chinese enterprises to continue to invest in Greece, Dendias said, adding that he is glad to see that the construction of Piraeus Port, a flagship project under the BRI, has achieved great success. The port is expected to become the largest in Europe with the joint efforts of the two countries.

Dendias noted that Greece and China share a common language when it comes to defending sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintaining international order. Greece will continue to firmly pursue the one-China policy.

Wang said that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have jointly demonstrated the responsibility of ancient civilizations. Wang said he hopes that Greece will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.

In 2021, the foreign trade between China and Greece hit over $12.1 billion, an increase of 55.6 percent year-on-year, showing strong growth momentum in bilateral trade cooperation.

Global Times