China, Greece agree to enhance comprehensive strategic partnership (2)

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on the Rhodes Island in Greece, July 13, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

As Greece is an important member of the EU, China hopes the Greek side will continue to play a positive role in promoting China-EU relations, Xi noted.

For his part, Samaras thanked China's assistance in Greece's response to its sovereign debt crisis, which showcases the deep friendship between the two countries.

"The Greek side highly appreciates China's achievements in its reform and opening-up, and believes that China will play an increasingly more important role in the world," said Samaras. "Greece is firmly devoted to deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership."

The Greek prime minister said his country is overcoming sovereign debt woes, and is having growing interest in bilateral cooperation such as in communication, energy, environmental protection, technology innovation, and modern logistics.

"Greece welcomes Chinese companies to expand investment in Greece' port, railway, and airport, making the country a gateway to the EU market," he said.

Stressing that Greece is ready to actively promote the friendly cooperation between China and countries in the Mediterranean Sea and the EU, Samaras said Greece and China, as two ancient civilizations, should promote fairness, justice, friendliness, and harmony in the international community, push for the joint resolution of global issues and challenges so as to boost world peace, stability and prosperity.

Accompanied by Samaras, the Chinese president toured the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 14th and 15th century and is one of the most well preserved medieval castles in Europe.

During the tour, Xi said China and Greece should expand people-to-people exchanges and jointly promote the traditional cultures of the two countries.

"China is ready work with Greece to expand people-to-people exchanges, strengthen education and tourism cooperation, and enhance the mutual understanding and friendship of both peoples," he said.

Visiting the Aegean Institute situated inside the castle, Xi noted that as China and Greece both have ancient ocean civilizations, and the next year marks the "China-Greece Maritime Cooperation Year," he hopes both sides will make contribution to building a peaceful and cooperative international maritime order.

The Chinese president is making a stopover on the southeastern Greek island of Rhodes on his way to Latin America, where he is set to pay state visits to Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba. He will also attend the sixth BRICS Summit and the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit in Brazil.