Background

China-Greece relations

(fmprc.gov.cn)
Updated: 2010-09-28 17:34

Since China and Greece established the diplomatic relations on June 5, 1972 it has seen a favorable development of the relations between the two countries. In 1980s, the Prime ministers of the two countries paid visits to each other. The Greek President and Speaker of the National Assembly visited China one after another and in 1990s there witnessed an increasing mutual visits at high levels and so the two countries have gained a favorable development of friendly cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture and military affairs. In March 1997, there witnessed an unstable situation in Albaniain which the Greek side as requested by the Chinese side sent gunboat over to help the withdrawal of the Chinese personnel away from Albania.

Since 1990s, the Chinese leaders of importance who visited Greece include: Vice-premier Zhu Rongji in 1994, Chainman of the NPC Qiao Shi in 1996, Chairman of the NPPCC Li Ruihuan in 1997, Chairman of the NPC Li Peng in 1999, President of the PRC Jiang Zemin in 2000, and Vice-premier of the State Council Li Lanqing in 2002. Personages of importance who visited China from Greece include: Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Minister of Sea Transportation Georgios Katsifaras in 1995, Chief procurator of the Supreme Procuratorate Aristides Dimopoulos in 1997, Minister of National Defence Akis Tsohatzopoulos in 1997, Minister of Internal Affairs Alexandros Papadopoulos in 1998, Speaker of the National Assembly Apostolos Kaklamanis in 1998, Minister of Foreign Affairs George Papandreou in 1999 & 2002, Minister in Charge of Development Nikos Christodoulakis in 2000 and Prime minister Konstantine Simitis in 2002 and so on.