Chinese Ambassador: ‘We Want More Exports from Greece’

The Chinese Ambassador to Greece, Fang Qiu, highlighted the historical bonds between China and Greece and discussed further collaboration opportunities during the first day of the 13th Regional Growth Conference (RGC), organized by the newspaper ‘Peloponnese’ at the Conference and Cultural Center of the University of Patras from May 12-14. Ambassador Qiu emphasized that the cooperation in Piraeus port is a success story that can serve as a model for the future. He mentioned that the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ aligns with local development goals and brings mutual benefits. China seeks more agricultural exports from Greece, including dairy products and saffron from Kozani, alongside promoting tourism to Greece. Qiu noted that both countries can play a pivotal role in modern geopolitical developments and stressed the importance of cooperation based on shared values. Regarding the Geneva agreement for reducing tariffs between the US and China, he expressed hope for continued progress towards sustainable bilateral relations while affirming China’s openness to equitable discussions. However, he also stated that China is not afraid of a trade war, focusing on high-value development and achieving record exports this year while shifting towards a greener economy. The conference is co-organized by the Western Greece Region and the University of Patras.