The development of relations between Greece and China has been based on a solid ground of mutual respect and political will, Greek President Karolos Papoulias said.

Bilateral ties are based on high appreciation and mutual respect between the peoples of Greece and China, on love and respect for the ancient civilizations, Papoulias told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Both peoples alike admire the great and significant history that links the two countries, he said on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and China.

"I am certain that these 40 years have been years of positive development of relations between Greece and China," he said, adding that " by political will and the will of our peoples, bilateral relations in the coming years will be of success and happiness."

Besides, bilateral ties have developed within a wider legal framework that includes many agreements signed over the years, Papoulias said.

"I think that the past years indicate toward a diverse development of our relations in the coming years," he stressed, citing two significant milestones in Greek-Chinese relations -- the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed in 2006 and the declaration issued in 2010 to enhance the partnership.

"I believe that all these are successes we should not forget, successes that inspire us for the further development of our relations," he said.

Papoulias noted that bilateral trade in 1972 was only 1 million U.S. dollars, while today, it reached more than 3 billion dollars.

Referring to the shipping sector, a pillar of cooperation between the two countries, Papoulias said Greek ship owners have made contracts with Chinese shipyards for vessels worth more than 50 billion dollars.

He welcomed investment from Chinese businesses in tourism, energy and other sectors, saying his country is making efforts toward privatization and seeks to develop new forms of cooperation with China.

The Greek president said he has been an admirer of Chinese people and history since he was a young man, and has studied whatever he could get about China's history, philosophy and scientific achievements.

"It concurred with a heroic period for the Greek people, when we resisted fascist and Nazi occupation, and when we were watching from a distance, of course, the achievements of the Chinese people in their united resistance against the fascist, Japanese invasion," he said of World War II in the last century.

"I wish for the Chinese people to achieve all goals they set, and I refer in particular to the great ongoing effort aiming for a better future for Chinese rural populace," Papoulias concluded.