President Xi calls for cooperation with Greece

China is willing to make a joint effort with Greece to build Piraeus Port into the largest container transferring port in the Mediterranean, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

The China-Greece cooperation in the famous port plays an important role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiatives, Xi told visiting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

China Cosco Shipping Corp signed an agreement with Greece's privatization fund in April to acquire a 67 percent stake in the Piraeus Port Authority.

The Chinese president called continuous mutual support on key issues involving each others' key interests and major concerns.

China would like to see a thriving and stable European Union and Britain, Xi said, adding that China hopes Europe to play positive role in international affairs.

Tsipras congratulated the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. He said Greece would like to cooperate with China in the Piraeus Port project.

Greece would like to connect its own development strategy to China's Belt and Road Initiatives, he said, adding that the country would play the role of lining east to west in transportation.

On Monday, Tsipras said at a China-Greece maritime cooperation forum that Greece welcomes investment from China.

Hailing China's contribution to the global economy, Tsipras said China is playing a more and more important role in international affairs.

Greece is ready to integrate its development strategies with China, and further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various areas, he said at the forum attended by some 400 entrepreneurs from China and Greece.