ATHENS, June 18  -- The mutual love and respect between Greeks and Chinese people based on history and civilization provide fertile ground for more bilateral cooperation, a Greek sinophile has told Xinhua.

Lefteris Kontos, vice president of the Greece-China Association, said he strongly believed strengthening cooperation between the two countries and peoples was a win-win situation at a time when Greece was grappling with one of its worst economic crises and needed support from friends, and China was seeking a credible gateway to Europe for its products.

He expressed the hope the upcoming June 19-21 visit to Greece by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang would help promote bilateral cooperation in many sectors.

Kontos has visited China 164 times, touring 14 provinces, over the past 30 years. And one of his sons, Filippos, has been living and working in Shanghai for seven years.

He said in the recent interview he considered China his second home, and suggested Greeks, especially the youth, turn their attention to China.

The Greece-China Association, founded 57 years ago, regarded promoting cultural exchanges with China one of its priorities, Kontos said. Greek President Karolos Papoulias is also a member of the association.

Kontos has dedicated himself to bringing the two peoples closer by promoting Greece's natural beauty, rich culture, tourism destinations and traditional products to China.

Kontos said, despite geographical distance, the two countries had striking similarities, including centuries-old history and ancient civilizations that served as their unique bonds and provided fertile ground for developing bilateral cooperation.

"Let's not forget that Socrates from this side and Confucius on the other side" were saying and teaching the same things, he said.

Kontos recalled that each time he "returned" to China, he was moved by the love he felt.

"You understand that they love you when they hear the word Xila (Chinese for Greece). They are the only nation calling us Hellas. They respect our civilization, our history and they want to learn it, to live in it and to embrace it. It is our duty to help them do it," he said.

He said he was also constantly impressed by China's rapid progress.

"They progress each day. This is development. That's how I perceive growth. With each second passing, thousands of people in China are improving their lives. Isn't this development?" he said.

Kontos considers himself lucky to have witnessed China's development throughout the years, believing Greeks can learn from the Chinese example. He says hardwork combined with discipline and patriotism create miracles.

He said he also appreciated China for acknowledging its problems and acting fast to resolve them.

China and Greece would be more highly intertwined in the future, with more Greeks discovering China, not only as tourists, but as entrepreneurs, witnessing and sharing the development of China, he said.