Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and visiting top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Thursday reached a consensus in Athens to boost mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

 

During their meeting, Karamanlis and Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), discussed ways and means to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as maritime shipping and tourism, reaching a consensus.

 

Wu said China attached great importance to its development of relations with Greece and would strengthen strategic dialogue and coordination with the European nation to push forward the all-round strategic partnership between the two countries.

 

Karamanlis said Greece also attached great importance to the development of its relations with China. The Greek government gave positive support to its departments to carry out agreements reached between the two sides and encouraged the exploration of new areas for bilateral cooperation.

 

The Chinese leader pointed out that cooperation in shipping between China and Greece had great potential. The Chinese side supported enterprises from the two sides to strengthen cooperation in ship-building and repairing, shipping, and harboring.

 

Wu added that China encouraged more Chinese ships to use Greek ports and supported Chinese companies to invest in port construction in Greece.

 

Karamanlis said cooperation in sea shipment is a major area in bilateral economic and trade relations. Rapid economic development and the expanding foreign trade of China inaugurated a broader foreground for maritime shipping cooperation between the two countries.

 

He said the Greek side welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in fundamental establishments including ports in Greece and would provide them with necessary facilities.

 

The two leaders also touched on international issues and had common views that the two countries shared similar stands on major issues and would further strengthen coordination and cooperation on international issues with a view to maintaining world peace and stability.

 

Wu arrived here on Monday for a four-day official visit to Greece, the third leg of his four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Romania and Moldova. The final stop will be Russia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2006)