The potential for stronger bilateral business relations between Greece and China was underlined in the two-day Business Forum that opened in Athens on Thursday hosted by the Hellenic-Chinese Chamber on the occasion of its 15th anniversary.

Addressing the forum, Deputy Rural Development and Foods Minister Mihalis Karhimakis pointed out that the volume of bilateral trade is growing, while reforms aimed at reducing tariffs and eliminating technical obstacles in transactions and red tape will bring more investments to both countries.

Great cooperation potential was observed in the exports of Greek olive oil and other locally produced goods, tourism, scientific personnel communication, joint ventures, monument restoration and earthquake protection projects.

Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO) president Alekos Holevas referred to the Greek pavilion in the Shanghai Expo 2010 stressing that it has already been visited by roughly 600,000 people.

Hellenic-Chinese Chamber President Konstantinos Yiannidis underlined the important role it can play particularly in the current economic circumstances.