Remarks by H.E. Li Keqiang
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
At the China-Greece Marine Cooperation Forum

Athens, 20 June 2014

Today, the China-Greece marine cooperation forum is being held, the first of its kind in the history of exchanges between China and Greece, one on the western coast of the Pacific and the other on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The event is therefore of special and profound significance as it offers plenty room for discussion.

China and Greece are both ancient countries facing the sea and both have a long tradition of navigation. When Duke Jing of the state of Qi of China's Spring and Autumn Period navigated in China's Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea over 2,500 years ago, merchant ships of Athens, the ancient Greek city-state, sailed along the coast of the Mediterranean. The Aegean Sea has nurtured the great ancient Greek civilization and shaped the character of the Greek people, known for being inclusive, optimistic, courageous and for their good sense of reasoning. Greece has also created advanced navigation technologies and promoted the development of an oceanic culture.

Likewise, the development of the Chinese civilization has never been separated from the influence of oceans. It has been via the ocean that China has conducted trade with other countries, in the process of which the Silk Road on the land in the north complemented the maritime one in the south. Over 600 years ago, Chinese navigator Zheng He and his impressive fleet brought along Chinese culture to Southeast Asia, West Asia and the east coast of Africa. With the introduction of the great cause of reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, China's coastal cities became the first to open to the outside world. The ocean, once again, helped China reach out to the world.

The ocean is closely related to the development of mankind. Since the Age of Navigation, the discovery of the new continent and the opening of new navigation routes have enabled the flow of goods, capital and personnel across different regions and made the formation of a global trade network possible. Constantly developing transportation on the sea has served as strong support to economic globalization and trade liberalization. The exploration and exploitation of the space and resources of oceans have become an important focus in the economic development of many coastal countries. It goes without saying that oceans have brought both blessing and common challenges to mankind, as we face heavy tasks of safeguarding maritime security and conserving the marine ecology. We stand ready to work with other countries to boost economic growth, deepen international cooperation and promote world peace through the ocean and to foster peace, cooperation and harmony in the ocean.

- Working together for an ocean of peace. History has repeatedly demonstrated that engagements with the ocean leads to prosperity and that isolation from the ocean leads to decline. Cooperation in developing the oceans brings development to all countries while war fought over the ocean inflicts disasters to mankind. After World War II, especially with the conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the international community has, over time, established and improved the new global maritime order within the UN framework. As a signatory to the Convention, China has made great efforts to uphold its purposes and principles. China will follow the path of peaceful development, firmly oppose hegemony on the sea and stand for settling bilateral maritime conflicts and disputes on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law and through direct dialogue and negotiation between parties involved. China is steadfastly supportive to all acts for peace and order on the sea and resolutely against any move to the contrary. China firmly safeguards its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and commits itself to maintaining regional peace and order. We will step up communication and cooperation with relevant countries and improve bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to jointly safeguard navigation freedom and security of shipping lanes, fight piracy and terrorism on the sea and cope with oceanic disasters in a bid to foster peace and tranquility in the ocean.

- Working together for an ocean of cooperation. The ocean covers 70% of the world's surface and carries the hope of world economic development and win-win cooperation. Navigation routes across oceans which connect continents constitute the passageways of global economic integration. The ocean witnesses the most dynamic global trade. Many cities and people as well as most of the developed cities and economic activities are in coastal areas. Half of the world's traded goods and about half of the shipment of petroleum are transported through the ocean. China will work with all coastal countries to forge partnerships for marine cooperation, build shipping lanes, develop marine economy, utilize marine resources, and explore the unknown about the ocean so as to contribute to wider international marine cooperation.

- Working together for an ocean of harmony. The ocean is an asset shared by mankind and should be developed into a green home. In the 21st century, the ocean should not be a barrier to contacts between countries. Rather, it is increasingly becoming a bridge and bond of openness, inclusiveness, exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. Those who are ready to embrace the vast ocean must be people with a broad mind. Inclusiveness is one of the essential cultural traditions of China and a virtue that enables nations to accommodate each other. It is in accord with the belief of ancient Greek philosophers that harmony generates justice, beauty and kindness. Harmony between man and the ocean is key to harmony between man and nature. While working on the development of the ocean, countries need to treat the marine ecology kindly and protect the marine environment so that the ocean will remain a place people can depend on and develop.

The friendship between China and Greece originated from the ocean, yet it goes far beyond the ocean. Over the past 42 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have deepened mutual understanding, enhanced political trust and helped and supported each other in difficult times. Greece has helped China during three massive overseas evacuation operations involving Chinese nationals. The Chinese people still keep a vivid memory of the evacuation of 13,000 Chinese from Libya. And, when Greece was faced with a sovereign debt crisis, China readily provided support to Greece. China has always been a long-term and responsible investor of the European government bonds, especially the government bonds of Greece, China's good friend. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The friendship between our two peoples, who have been brought together by the ocean, has stood the test of time and hardship, and should be cherished all the more. During this visit, we have seen that as a result of the hard work of the Greek people, the dark clouds of the sovereign debt crisis are being gradually dispersed, structural reforms have produced new results, and confidence in the Greek economy is markedly rising. China feels happy for what Greece has accomplished and will continue to take cooperative measures to support economic recovery of Greece.

The traditional friendship between China and Greece is based on the many commonalities in our thinking. China and Greece are of the same mind on harmony, justice and fairness. Prime Minister Samaras mentioned China's philosophers Laozi and Confucius. Actually, the Chinese people are also very familiar with the names of your ancient philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Many Greek myths are well-known in China and China's legends are widely told among the Greek people. I heard people in Greece say that there may be a Chinese hidden in a Greek and a Greek hidden in a Chinese. In fact, it represents something very valuable, an unbreakable friendship between China and Greece.

I have chosen Greece to be the destination of my first visit as China's Premier to a Southern European country. During the visit, we have not only carried out in-depth exchanges, but more importantly, advanced practical cooperation. Yesterday, Prime Minister Samaras and I had in-depth talks and reached broad agreement. The two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Marine Affairs and announced the decisions to designate 2015 as the year of oceans for China and Greece, establish the inter-governmental Joint Committee of Marine Collaboration and enhance practical cooperation in marine science and technology, environmental protection, disaster prevention and reduction, maritime law enforcement and other areas.

This morning, Prime Minister Samaras and I toured the Piraeus container terminal. The China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) operating there has conducted fruitful cooperation with Greek companies. I want to point out that the shortest distance of shipping from China's coast to Europe is through the Suez Canal to Piraeus via the Mediterranean. The two-way trade between China and the EU is of a huge size and the EU is China's largest trading partner. Every day, goods are traded between China and the EU, and 80% of them are transported on the sea. If we fully develop the route of Piraeus, which enjoys a remarkable geographical advantage, it will become yet another major passage for China-EU trade, or, in the words of Prime Minister Samaras, an important gateway from China to Europe. China-Greece cooperation will make Piraeus the most competitive port in Europe and even the world.

We also plan to develop the ship repair and shipbuilding industries in Piraeus and, starting from Piraeus, gradually upgrade the trunk railway from Greece to the hinterland of Europe. This will not only be conducive to China, but to Greece and the growth of China-EU relations. It will help Europe as it endeavors to achieve prosperity, development and balanced and sustainable growth. We stand ready to work with Greece to make Piraeus a highlight in our cooperation. Today's forum is not a mere talk shop, but is intended to facilitate real results out of our cooperation.

At the same time, China and Greece need to deepen cooperation in the shipping industry. Greece has the biggest shipping capacity in the world, while China is the largest shipbuilder and trader in goods and a primary shipbuilding base for Greek ship owners. Our cooperation is expanding to the whole spectrum of industrial chains, led by the shipping industry and covering various aspects of industry and services, and consists of multiple links such as design, marketing, transport, logistics, storage, finance and insurance. Our two countries hold respective strengths in these areas and need to work harder on it to expand cooperation.

What is more, we need to expand areas of trade and investment cooperation. Greek olive oil, wine, marble and other agricultural and mining products as well as processed products are well-known in the world. We will improve trade mix and increase imports from Greece, and welcome Greek companies to China to promote quality products. We will also invest more in Greece, encourage Chinese companies to cooperate with the Greek side in multiple forms and expand our mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as airport, railway, highway and hydropower facilities. Last year, the Chinese made nearly 100 million outbound trips. If only 1% of them would come to Greece, that would be one million visits. There is indeed great potential to tap in tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

China-Greece cooperation is part of a growing China-EU relationship. Greece is an important member of the EU and a friendly cooperation partner for China in the EU. Greece now holds the rotating EU presidency. China wishes to work with Greece to implement the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, deepen China-EU marine cooperation and play an active part in expanding the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and make the two sides partners for peace, growth, reform and civilization.

People living by the sea know best how the sea may inspire us. The sea has seen both high tide and low tide. A country's economy may follow the same course, and our endeavor to build a modern-time oceanic civilization also requires the courage to brave difficulties. The sea is vast and refuses no rivers or streams. Likewise, countries need to accommodate each other, talk with and learn more from each other. Both China and Greece are ancient civilizations and both have benefited from our traditional wisdom. In our future journeys, China will join hands with Greece and, drawing on the durable wisdom of the sea and in the same measure of its openness, strive to make the ancient Chinese and Greek civilizations shine with new splendor in our time and make distinct contribution to fostering a modern oceanic civilization that is rooted in tradition and oriented towards the future.