Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras smiles during his speech aboard the Chinese frigate Changbaishan. (Photo : Reuters)
On the first day of the Chinese new year, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke aboard a Chinese naval ship to reaffirm his nation's commitment to the Chinese people, referring to the Greek ships that assisted large numbers of Chinese nationals to leave embattled Libya during recent years.
The European leader also assured the Asian economic giant that COSCO's management activities at Piraeus Port will receive ongoing support, as he identified Greece as a major gateway of commerce for China into the European region.
Thursday's strengthening of Sino-Greek ties arrived at a fortuitous time for Beijing, as President Xi Jinping's massive Silk Road initiative, which includes the Maritime Silk Road project, enters its next stage of development.
Following the Greek government's cessation of the privatization of its two largest ports, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, Tsipras said before the Chinese ambassador and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) crew: "We give special importance to the existing Chinese investments in Greece."
The warm Greek sentiment was reinforced by the European nation's defense minister, Panos Kammenos, who spoke highly of the 18th PLA Navy escort fleet, which had sailed into the Piraeus Port at the start of the week from international anti-piracy work in the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia.
The defense minister's praise extended beyond the naval realm to include the defensive sector:
"The visit of the 18th escort fleet of the Chinese Navy is a great honor. It proves that good cooperation between the two nations can continue, and apart from the business sector, it can be extended in the defense industry."
In addition to Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli, Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Zhang Chuanshu, Alternate Greek Shipping Minister Theodoris Dritsas, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and Piraeus Port Authority Chief Yorgos Anomeritis were in attendance at the event.
