Chinese premier eyes closer parliamentary exchanges with Greece

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) shakes hands with Greek Parliament Speaker Evangelos Vasileios Meimarakis during their meeting in Athens, Greece, June 19, 2014. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Greek Parliament Speaker Evangelos Vasileios Meimarakis in Athens on Thursday, calling for joint efforts to beef up bilateral parliamentary exchanges. [Special coverage]

Li said parliamentary cooperation, an important part of the Sino-Greek comprehensive strategic partnership, has played an irreplaceable role in cementing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

China is ready to boost exchanges and cooperation with the Greek parliament and political parties, he said, calling on the Greek parliament to continue its contribution to stronger China-Greece cooperation.

Hailing the healthy growth of bilateral ties, Li pledged to further enhance cooperation with Greece in such areas as infrastructure, ocean, trade and logistics, in a bid to promote economic development and benefit the two peoples.

The cooperation between China and Greece, representatives of the Eastern and Western civilizations, will harvest greater achievements, Li said.

Meimarakis, expressing the Greek people's love for Chinese culture, said Greece hopes to boost win-win cooperation with the Asian country and welcomes more Chinese investment.

The Greek parliament is willing to strengthen exchanges with the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top legislature and top advisory body, he said.

Li arrived here earlier on Thursday for his first official visit to Greece since taking office last year.

Greece is the second leg of his two-nation Europe trip which has taken him to Britain.