Xinua — A Chinese naval fleet arrived on Sunday at Piraeus port for a four-day visit to Greece, conveying a message of friendship and cooperation.
Missile destroyer Changchun, missile frigate Jingzhou and supply vessel Chaohu docked at Piraeus receiving a warm welcome by Greek and Chinese officials, and more than 1,000 Chinese living in Greece, as the Philharmonic band of the Municipality of Piraeus performed.
“The Naval Task Group 150 of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army departed from Shanghai on April 23 and during the mission we will conduct maritime training and goodwill visits to Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania,” said Rear Admiral Shen Hao, Commander of the Chinese navy fleet, while addressing the event.
The Chinese officer expressed confidence that the visit to Greece will help further advance bilateral cooperation, receiving the warm applause of the crowd.
The Escort Task Groups of the Chinese Navy have been offering protection to Greek commercial ships since 2008, while the Greek Navy has helped the Chinese side evacuate overseas Chinese from war-torn areas in recent years, Gao Wenqi, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, noted, delivering a speech during the ceremony.
“The Piraeus port, which the Task Group 150 is visiting, is a pearl of the Mediterranean, the pride of Greece, the lodestar of China-Greece cooperation, and a place where our joint dreams come true,” Gao Wenqi stressed.
“China and Greece are promoting the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line in which Piraeus is a key port. Our two ancient nations, inheritors of illustrious civilizations, are marching hand-in-hand towards their common goal of rejuvenation,” the Chinese diplomat added.
