Your Excellency Mr Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, Your Excellencies, Dear Guests,
It is a great honor for me to be here today representing Greece, a country honored at the 2nd China International Import Expo. Greece is present at the exhibition for a second consecutive year.
However, the context this year is very different. We are finally emerging from the darkness of the long and painful 10-year financial crisis and face the opportunities of the future with a renewed sense of optimism and confidence.
Our presence here also confirms the importance of our strategic relationship with China. The relationship between Greece and the People’s Republic of China is not new. It has evolved over the past decades and our bonds are expanding and strengthening.
However, this relationship is not just about trade, investment, technology, tourism or the economy at large. It goes much deeper in time. Greece and China treat each other with respect as ancient cultures for millennia. The two countries have not only moved with the wheel of History, they have shaped it.
Confucius and Aristotle dealt with fundamental issues concerning the morality and meaning of virtuous life. People, including political leaders, would have won if their teachings had recovered the radiation they deserve.
So we stand here today, representing cultures that have left a powerful footprint in the history of mankind.
Thanks to its geographical location, Greece has always been open to the world and has been affected by the winds of change from early on. We are a nation of seafarers. Greek shipowners control 25% of the world’s commercial fleet. In this, synergies with China, the world’s largest export economy, are obvious.
China has the potential to reach far-flung markets largely thanks to Greek ships. Many of these ships were built in Chinese shipyards. More specifically, more than 1,000 in the last 15 years, which cumulatively represent an investment of more than $ 50 billion. If these ships could utilize high quality equipment such as environmental protection systems, lighting, electrical or navigation systems built in Greece, this would further improve our synergy in a mutually beneficial way.
COSCO Shipping’s investment in Greece is an important success story not only for the relationship between China and Greece but also for our region. It is an example of how a Chinese company was bold enough to invest in Greek infrastructure at a time when Greece was not considered an appropriate investment destination.
Piraeus is the first major European port on the route from Asia to Europe, after crossing the Suez Canal. Through Greece, goods from Asia can reach Eastern Europe seven to ten days faster than other routes, thus saving valuable time, money and carbon dioxide emissions. My government has just approved a plan for additional investment of 600m euros in the port of Piraeus. It is already the largest port in the Mediterranean. It can and will become one of the three largest in Europe.
Mr President, honorable guests,
For Greece, the crisis was a tragedy, but as with any tragedy, the end comes with cleansing. We come out of the dark years stronger, wiser and more pragmatic. After 10 very difficult years the Greek economy is recovering dynamically. A few weeks ago, Greek government treasury bills first received a negative interest rate from the markets, which was unthinkable just a year ago.
We estimate that by 2020 the Greek economy will grow at close to 3% annually – much higher than most European economies. All the indicators of financial confidence have recovered. We will exploit this momentum.
My government was elected last July with self-reliance and a clear mandate to restore growth, attract foreign investment and secure a business-friendly economic environment.
My country offers a rare combination of unique natural beauty and cultural surroundings, a geopolitically privileged location at the crossroads of three continents, and a skilled workforce. Add to them a government committed to implementing the necessary reforms that will unlock our capabilities and have what I consider to be essential ingredients for Greece to become a true success story.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Greek-Chinese economic cooperation is two-way. On Sunday, I had the pleasure of launching a new factory built outside of Shanghai by a Greek company that produces high-quality lifts for the Chinese market. We build on our heritage but also support innovation. The technology and green energy companies that accompany us from Greece are proof of this strategy.
We see sustainable development as a central pillar of our development strategy. Opening the Chinese market to high quality Greek agricultural products is a priority for us.
I consider the agreement on the protection of geographical origin to be signed tomorrow in Beijing absolutely crucial to ensure that Chinese consumers have access to high quality agricultural products from Europe. This is a strategy that President Macron has developed in our relationship with China: trust and balance. Harmony, if you will, to use a Chinese concept. These should be the basic principles that govern our relationship.
Finally, I would like to highlight the prospects presented in the tourism industry. Greece is, after all, the land of hospitality. Hospitality is a tradition as old as Zeus. This year we will welcome more than 30 million visitors to Greece. However, less than 200,000 will come from China. We intend to change that. We can work together to open the Greek market to Chinese tourists. I am convinced that Chinese tourists will appreciate the unique cultural experience that Greece offers.
I am particularly pleased that a direct flight between Shanghai and Athens is added to the existing flight between Beijing and Athens.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,
Greece was the last country to join the “17 + 1” initiative, but it is the first country you will meet on the way to Europe.
We look forward to your visit to Greece next Sunday. You will find a country that has returned to the path of sustainable development for the benefit of all its citizens.
But today is the day to celebrate this development in China, a country that has never left us in the dark days of the crisis.
Together, Greece and China are not only honoring their glorious past but are charting a path to a very promising future.
Thank you.
