China Actively Seeking to Boost Tourism Investments in Greece

President of China Media Group (CMG), Shen Haixiong (photo right). Photo source: CMG.

Greece and China are moving swiftly ahead with bilateral cooperation in tourism and other fields after China’s largest credit rating agencies upgraded Greece to investment grade paving the way for investments between the two countries, said the President of China Media Group (CMG), Shen Haixiong, who was in Athens this week for the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The event came several days ahead of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ official visit to China on Thursday, accompanied by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Christos Staikouras.

Photo source: Chinese Embassy in Greece.

Shen said the country’s recent upgrade will lead more Chinese entrepreneurs to Greece to invest in energy, renewable resources, technology and tourism.

“China is about to create the ‘International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities’ and looks forward to Greece’s participation in the initiative,” said Shen. He went on to add that China’s middle class, expected to exceed 800 million in the next 10 years, offers a huge market potential for Greece.

“China will continue to jointly implement the Greece-China Joint Tourism Action Plan aimed at attracting more and more Chinese tourists to Greece,” he said.

Photo source: CMG.

As part of ongoing efforts to boost economic activity and tourism flows, China is also promoting the Maritime Silk Road (MSR), a strategic initiative to increase investment and foster collaboration across the historic Silk Road. The integrated development of ports, shipping and trade are key priorities, said China’s Ambassador to Greece, Xiao Junzheng.

He went on to add that China and Greece will also enhance cooperation in culture during Mitsotakis’ visit. In this direction, the Greek Culture Ministry and China Central Television will sign an agreement aimed at documenting the heritage of both cultures, preserving and promoting their values and exploring ways to promote mutual learning.

The Greek prime minister is scheduled to meet this week with the President of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang. On his part, Staikouras is set to hold meetings with the board of Yutong International Holding, which will be delivering 250 new electric buses to Athens and Thessaloniki and will sign the Greece – China Bilateral Aviation Agreement updating the institutional framework covering aviation relations between the two countries.