Chinese, Greek leaders vow to promote bilateral ties

President Xi Jinping and Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou exchanged congratulations on Sunday on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Greece, with both leaders vowing to promote bilateral ties and world peace.

In a congratulatory message sent to Sakellaropoulou, Xi said that over the past half a century, the two countries, with historical vision, have been keeping with the trend of the times and supporting each other on issues related to their own core interests and major concerns.

They uphold openness and win-win cooperation, work together on the joint construction of the Belt and Road and carry on the wisdom of the ancient civilizations as well as the Olympic spirit, delivering substantial well-being to the two countries and their people and setting an example for the international community of different civilizations learning from each other, he said.

Xi said that he considers the development of China-Greece ties greatly important and he stands ready to work with Sakellaropoulou to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to strengthen the countries' traditional friendship, expand their pragmatic cooperation, advance cultural and people-to-people exchanges and make the comprehensive strategic partnership even more meaningful in order to benefit the two nations.

Sakellaropoulou said in her message to Xi that since they established diplomatic ties, Greece and China have forged a relationship that promotes cooperation and friendship founded on mutual understanding and respect.

The Greek president said that she is confident that the two countries will continue to join hands to realize the great goal of promoting dialogue between different civilizations and upholding world peace.

Also on Sunday, Premier Li Keqiang and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary.

Li said China is ready to work with Greece to consolidate political mutual trust and continuously deepen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, shipping and new energy to take their partnership to a higher level.

Mitsotakis said that the solid friendship and high-level cooperation between Greece and China have set a good example for countries across the world. The Greek prime minister also expressed his hope that the two countries would take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to enhance cooperation in international affairs and push for sustained development of bilateral ties.