
Li Changchun, senior official of the Communist Party
of China (CPC) met with Greek leaders in Athens on June 28,
calling for the strengthening of bilateral friendly ties and
cooperation.
Li, member of the Standing
Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central
Committee, met on separate occasions with Greek President
Costis Stephanopoulos, President of the Parliament Anna
Psarouda-Benaki, Chairman of the Panhellenic Socialist
Movement George Papandreou, and held talks with Secretary of
the central committee of the New Democratic Party Vagelis
Meimarakis.
In the meeting with
Stephanopoulos, Li, who flied into Greece on June 27 for an
official goodwill visit, said both China and Greece have
ancient civilizations and has made significant contributions
to the human progress.
At present, he said,
the two nations shoulder similar tasks of developing their
economy and share extensive consensus on major international
and regional issues.
Li thanked Greece's
understanding and support for China on the Taiwan and Tibet
issues, he said, noting he wished the Athens 2004Olympic
Games a complete success.
Stephanopoulos said
Greece treasures its ties with China, noting it appreciates
China's progress.
On some major issues
concerning China, he said Greece will, as always, support
China and he hoped statemen of the two countries would
continue to deepen friendly contacts in a bid to push
forward the Greece-China traditional friendship.
In the meeting with Psarouda-Benaki, Li
applauded the friendly ties between the CPC and the four
parties in the Greek parliament, and praised them for their
positive roles in promoting the development of
state-to-state ties.
He noted that the CPC is
ready to strengthen bilateral contacts, increase mutual
understanding and deepen traditional friendship.
Psarouda-Benaki agreed to Li's viewpoints,
saying she hoped both sides strengthen high-level contacts
and push the relationship between the two parties and the
two parliaments to a new high.
In the talks
with Meimarakis, Li exchanged views with him on deepening
the relations between the two parties, noting he hoped to
further exchange experience on handling the state affairs,
tighten coordination on major international affairs, so as
to contribute more to the overall development of the
China-Greece friendly cooperation.
Meimarakis
said his party is ready to further strengthen friendly
contacts with the Chinese party and push forward
state-to-state ties.
In the meeting with
Papandreou, Li spoke highly of the movement's long-term
efforts in promoting the development of China-Greece
friendship.
Both sides agreed to continue
bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation.
During his stay in Athens, Li visited the site
of the first modern Olympic Games and met with Mayor of
Athens Dora Bakoyannis.
Li is expected to fly
to the Crete Island on June 29 before leaving for France on
July 1, the last leg of his four-nation tour.
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