Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and visiting top Chinese
legislator Wu Bangguo on Thursday reached a consensus in Athens to
boost mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields between the
two countries.
During their meeting, Karamanlis and Wu, chairman of the
Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC),
discussed ways and means to expand mutually beneficial cooperation
in fields such as maritime shipping and tourism, reaching a
consensus.
Wu said China attached great importance to its development of
relations with Greece and would strengthen strategic dialogue and
coordination with the European nation to push forward the all-round
strategic partnership between the two countries.
Karamanlis said Greece also attached great importance to the
development of its relations with China. The Greek government gave
positive support to its departments to carry out agreements reached
between the two sides and encouraged the exploration of new areas
for bilateral cooperation.
The Chinese leader pointed out that cooperation in shipping
between China and Greece had great potential. The Chinese side
supported enterprises from the two sides to strengthen cooperation
in ship-building and repairing, shipping, and harboring.
Wu added that China encouraged more Chinese ships to use Greek
ports and supported Chinese companies to invest in port
construction in Greece.
Karamanlis said cooperation in sea shipment is a major area in
bilateral economic and trade relations. Rapid economic development
and the expanding foreign trade of China inaugurated a broader
foreground for maritime shipping cooperation between the two
countries.
He said the Greek side welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in
fundamental establishments including ports in Greece and would
provide them with necessary facilities.
The two leaders also touched on international issues and had
common views that the two countries shared similar stands on major
issues and would further strengthen coordination and cooperation on
international issues with a view to maintaining world peace and
stability.
Wu arrived here on Monday for a four-day official visit to
Greece, the third leg of his four-nation tour, which has already
taken him to Romania and Moldova. The final stop will be
Russia.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2006)
