Visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo proposed on Tuesday in Athens to deepen economic and trade cooperation with Greece.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sino-Greek Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, Wu suggested that the two countries deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as shipment and ship-building, expand cooperation in new areas such as tourism and the Olympic games, and encourage the enterprises of both sides to play important roles in economic and trade cooperation.

the Top Chinese legislator said that further development of Sino-Greek economic and trade cooperation not only accorded with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also was an important part of the fully-fledged strategic partnership of the two countries.

He said the two sides had a desire to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation. The Chinese leader also expressed his satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations between China and Greece since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1972, describing current development of Sino-Greek relations as being at its best time.

Wu said the development of China had provided important chances for the development of other countries, including Greece. He said China, a big potential market, with political stability and rich labor resources, is also an ideal place for mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation with other countries in the world.

More than 600 officials and business people of the two countries attended the forum's opening ceremony.

Wu arrived here on Monday for his first four-day official visit to Greece, the third leg of his four-nation tour. He has already visited Romania and Moldova and will visit Russia during the tour.

Source: Xinhua