In 2021, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Hellenic Republic sustained a sound momentum of growth, with exchanges and cooperation deepening in various fields.

The two countries maintained frequent high-level exchanges. In July, President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the two sides exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations and relevant regional issues. In October, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Greece, where he met with Prime Minister Mitsotakis, and held talks and jointly met the press with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. In June, George Papandreou, President of Greek Socialist International and former Greek Prime Minister, sent a congratulatory letter on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

Bilateral practical cooperation progressed steadily. Over the year, two-way trade value rose by 55.6% year on year. In February, the Hellenic Development Bank joined the China-CEEC Interbank Consortium. In April, the first phase of the Crete-Attica Interconnection project jointly built by China and Greece was smoothly completed and put into operation. In October, an additional 16% stake in the Piraeus Port Authority was transferred to China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited.

Diverse people-to-people and cultural exchanges were conducted. In July, the China-Greece Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning of Civilizations was successfully held. In September, the China-Greece Year of Culture and Tourism was launched at the Ancient Agora of Athens. Premier of China and Prime Minister of Greece attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks via video link. In October, the “Byzantium and China: Relationships and Parallels” International Conference, co-hosted by the Center for Hellenic Studies at Peking University and the Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies in Venice, was held in Mystras, Greece. In October, the Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony was successfully held in Ancient Olympia and Athens in Greece. In the same month, the Advisory Committee for Greek-Chinese Cooperation in Higher Education was set up. Yantai City of China and Chios City of Greece established sister-city ties. City of China and Chios City of Greece established sister-city ties. The Confucius Institute jointly built by Central University of Finance and Economics of China and University of Thessaly was officially inuagurated.

In November, China’s new ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng presented his credentials to Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.