More Greek-Sino cooperation expected under Belt and Road Initiative

After the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation hosted in Beijing on May 14-15 and the successful cooperation at Greece's largest Piraeus port, the future of Sino-Greek cooperation in all sectors will be bright, Greek Economy and Development Deputy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas told Xinhua in a recent interview in Athens.

As a member of the Greek delegation led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the forum, Pitsiorlas witnessed once again the great importance attached to bilateral collaboration in the framework of construction under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The signing of a three-year-action plan between Greece and China in Beijing which will be the basis of economic cooperation from now on, new initiatives undertaken to strengthen peoples to peoples contacts and the deep-rooted mutual respect between Greeks and Chinese make Pitsiorlas more optimistic than ever that Sino-Greek collaboration will flourish in coming years.

The Greek official was impressed by the numerous delegations and the highest level of participation at the Beijing forum which he regards as a very significant event for international economy that reflected a new reality. The significance of the Initiative taken by China and Chinese President Xi Jinping was obvious to all delegates and the world, he said.

"It was a very successful event and regarding Greece the presence was remarkable and showed the great possibilities in Sino-Greek relations... Greece is indeed a country which can hold a key role -- can play the role of the bridge between the West and the East. This was clearly demonstrated at the forum," Pitsiorlas said.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China`s President Xi Jinping in 2013 with an aim to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)