Greek businessmen and Chinese scholars expressed their optimism regarding the cooperation between the two countries as far as the Belt and Road Initiative is concerned, during a forum on December 10 at Piraeus port.
The location was not random as Piraeus is Greece’s largest ports and represents the symbol of cooperation between Greece and China.
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Some of the most powerful Chinese companies, like Cosco acquired the Port of Piraeus, and now the Greek port had made significant and fast growth, becoming a key transshipment terminal, connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
With these series of aggressive acquisitions, Chinese companies attempt to reshape the map of global trade and political influence.
The event “Belt and Road Initiative – The New Silk Road”, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Piraeus (PCCI) and the Chinese Embassy in Greece, presented the developments made so far in Greece, in the context of the Belt and Road initiative.
This comes five years after the beginning of China’s initiative, when Greece and China explored the opportunities to advance bilateral cooperation to benefit both sides.
According to Vassilis Korkidis, president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Piraeus, Greece can further leverage the opportunities that are open from this collaboration, taking advantage of its key geopolitical position.
Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zhang Qiyue also mentioned that the Belt and Road Initiative is basically a call by China towards other countries to cooperate in any way possible.
He added that it is a good initiative for globalization, while he emphasized that China is attempting to align its development with the development strategies of other countries.
