By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, currently on an official visit to Beijing, has expressed Greece's intention to strengthen economic relations with China.
At the beginning of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mitsotakis highlighted the success of the Port of Piraeus, operated by Chinese shipping giant Cisco, emphasizing its mutual benefits.
“It has been a successful investment for both sides and we look forward to further expansion. Of course, there is significant scope to improve our trade relations, so that more Greek products enter the Chinese market, and more Chinese visitors visit Greece,” said Mitsotakis, according to a statement from the Greek Prime Minister’s office.
The prime minister said that Greece seeks the increase its exports to China and attract more Chinese investment.
Addressing EU-Chinese relations, Mitsotakis reiterated Greece's firm stance on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the European Union and Beijing, saying it is in both sides' interest for this relationship to be constructive and stable.
Mitsotakis said that, given Europe's need for strategic autonomy in facing global geopolitical challenges, Greece can play a bridging role in Sino-European relations.