China, Greece issue joint statement, pledge to deepen partnership

ATHENS, June 20 -- China and Greece stand ready to jointly deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership in accordance with principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, said a joint statement issued here on Friday.

The document, issued after talks between visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Greek President Karolos Papoulias, hailed the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership which was established in 2006, as well as the fruitful achievements in bilateral ties since Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' visit to China last year.

The two sides are willing to jointly deepen the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, make a full use of the bilateral cooperation mechanisms including intergovernmental connection mechanisms and mixed committees and keep strengthening cooperation between the two countries in all fields under the principle of mutual benefit and win-win outcome.

China and Greece agree to keep the momentum of exchange of high-level visits, make contacts of personnel at all levels close and further enhance mutual understanding and political mutual trust, so as to lay a firm political foundation for their pragmatic cooperation, said the statement.

The two sides stress the importance of mutual understanding and pledge to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, said the statement.

Greece will firmly pursue the one-China policy, respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and support China's realization of national reunification, while China admits and supports Greece's positive role on global and regional issues, said the statement.

China appreciates Greece's successful efforts to deal with the economic crisis and reaffirms it will continue to offer Greece help within its capacity.

The two sides welcome the restart of negotiations over the Cyprus issue under the mediation of the U.N. General Secretary, expecting a fair and lasting solution based on relevant resolutions of the U.N. Security Council as early as possible.

China and Greece believe that the most effective approach for solving the China-European Union economic and trade friction is dialogue and consultation. China appreciates Greece's positive efforts to promote China-EU relations in the first half of 2014 as holder of the rotating EU presidency.

Both sides oppose all forms of trade and investment protectionism, and are willing to support and facilitate each other in terms of financing, investment and trade, etc.

The two sides stand ready to take positive measures to address the issue of bilateral trade imbalance. China is willing to import more quality goods from Greece, while Greece welcomes the participation by Chinese enterprises in the privatization of its state-owned assets, said the document.

Both sides agreed to set 2015 as the "China-Greece Maritime Cooperation Year" and will establish a mechanism for bilateral maritime cooperation, so as to promote the launch of bilateral cooperation in the fields of the marine economy, the maritime ecological environmental protection and marine mineral resources exploration and development, etc.

According to the document, the two sides agree to well operate the Piraeus Container Terminal project in an effective and win-win manner.

China attaches great importance to Greece's unique regional advantage as the gateway to Europe, and stands ready to expand pragmatic cooperation with Greece in the field of construction of infrastructure facilities including ports, highways and railways. Greece welcomes China's active participation in projects of privatization of the Piraeus Port Authority.

The two sides encourage their citizens to travel to each other's countries and are willing to facilitate the visa application, said the statement.

On sports cooperation, China and Greece have agreed to establish a mechanism for steady cooperation herein, said the document.

Premier Li arrived here Thursday for an official visit, his first tour to Greece since taking office in 2013.