A webinar between Fujian and the Region of Western Greece was held on April 8. Among the attendees were Guo Ningning, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Fujian Province, Fokion Zaimis, Deputy Governor of the Region of Western Greece (RWG), You Side, Deputy Secretary General of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, and leading officials of relevant departments and universities from both sides.

In the opening remarks, Executive Vice Governor Guo Ningning greeted the participants and shared the latest developments of Fujian. She said, under the frameworks of the China-Greece strategic partnership and China-CEEC cooperation, Fujian is ready to work closer with the Region of Western Greece to expand cooperation in such areas as trade, economy, education, port, shipping, culture, tourism, and sister city, so as to benefit both peoples and open up new prospects for Fujian-RWG friendship and cooperation.

Deputy Governor Fokion Zaimis commended the extraordinary achievements China has made over the past 40-some years, and noted that the model and experience of China’s development can inspire more countries. He gave a brief introduction of the Region of Western Greece, looked forward to the establishment of friendship province relationship between the two sides, and eyed greater cooperation in trade, economy, education, culture, tourism, etc..

During the meeting, leading officials from relevant departments of both Fujian and the Region of Western Greece talked about the international cooperation on education, trade, culture and tourism, and offered proposals for bilateral collaboration. Representatives from Fujian University of Technology and the University of Patras also shared their views on furthering inter-university exchanges and cooperation.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Greece, which provides new opportunities for the friendly cooperation between the two countries at the subnational level. Going forward, under the framework of BRI cooperation, Fujian stands ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Region of Western Greece in various fields, including the inking of the letter of intent for sisterhood at an early date, friendly exchanges between Fuzhou and Patras, inter-university cooperation programs, and the Silk Road Maritime cooperation on ports and shipping, so that more fruits of common development will be shared by both peoples.