CHINA AND GREECE: OLD CIVILIZATIONS, NEW PARTNERS

The good relationship between China and Greece is evident in the staunch support Greece has provided over the recent years for China on issues of the latter's major interests.

In 2011, the European country offered assistance to China' s evacuation of its nationals from war-torn Libya.

Before that, as the birthplace of Olympic Games, it strongly supported the 2008 Beijing Games.

The upcoming visit by Premier Li to Greece will underscore the broad prospect of cooperation between the two countries, noted Cui Hongjian, director of Europe research at the China Institute of International Studies.

As the highlight of the visit, the Chinese premier and his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras will jointly inspect the Piraeus port near Athens, part of which is operated China' s state-owned shipping giant China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co (COSCO) under a 35-year lease signed in 2009.

It was the first time that a Chinese firm has ever been granted operation rights to an oversea port. Latest statistics show the port' s annual handling capacity surged from 685,000 TEUs in 2010 to 2.52 million last year.

Experts say the Piraeus port has brought benefits to the local people by attracting investment and creating jobs, and it is also a successful case of Chinese enterprises' "going abroad" endeavors, enhancing their international competitiveness and boosting exports.

The visit by the Chinese premier is widely expected to further expand practical cooperation between China and Greece in such fields as economy and trade, shipping, oil and gas, tourism and maritime affairs.

During the visit, Li will also attend a forum on the maritime cooperation between China and Greece and deliver a speech to expound China' s views on maritime issues.

"It is a very appropriate time and occasion. It is of great significance for the Chinese government to clarify its position (on maritime issues) in a country seen as the origin of marine civilization," said Cui.

Experts say China, a country of vast maritime territory, should stand firmly in safeguarding its maritime rights while unswervingly pursue the road of peaceful development.

Committed to resolving territorial and maritime disputes by peaceful means, China has become an important force in promoting regional and global peace and development.