BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping and Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou exchanged congratulatory messages on Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Xi pointed out that the two sides have been following the trend of times, supported each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, and have carried forward the wisdom of the time-honored civilizations and the Olympic spirit, which has brought tangible benefits to the two countries and their people, and set a good example of mutual learning among civilizations for the international community.
Xi stressed that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Greece relations and is ready to work with President Sakellaropoulou to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to deepen traditional friendship, promote cultural exchanges and enrich the connotation of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to benefit the two countries and their people.
In her message, Sakellaropoulou said that over the past five decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Greece and China have nurtured bilateral relations with cooperation and friendship in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual respect.
She expressed the confidence that both sides will join hands to advance the grand goal of promoting dialogue among civilizations and safeguarding world peace.
On Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis exchanged congratulatory messages.
Li said China is ready to work with Greece and take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a new start to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, marine transport and new energy, as well as to promote big strides in the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership and take it to even higher levels.
For his part, Mitsotakis said that the solid friendship and high level of cooperation between China and Greece has set a good example for countries across the world.
READ MORE: Xi urges China, Greece to set example in mutual trust, ties.
The prime minister expressed the hope that the two countries take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in global affairs and push for continued development of bilateral relations.