BILATERAL RELATIONS GREECE-CHINA

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» Foreign Policy » Geographic Regions » Asia - Oceania » Bilateral Relations » China

China

I. Diplomatic relations : Greeces diplomatic relations with China date back to 5.6.1972. Since that date our bilateral relations have been developing smoothly. In March 2005 Greece opened a Consulate General in Shanghai.

II. Treaty Framework

Agreement on cooperation between police forces (Beijing, 15/2/1995).
Cooperation Agreement on combating terrorism and drugs (Beijing, 15/2/1995).
Maritime agreement (16/10/1995).
Memorandum of cooperation on management of marine resources and mutual scientific and technical cooperation (Athens, 16/10/1995).
Protocol on scientific and technological cooperation (Beijing, 14/11/1995).
Programme of cultural exchanges for the period 1999 2002 (Beijing, 9/9/1999). Extended for a further three years in March 2003.
Protocol on consultations between the foreign ministries of Greece and China (Beijing, 29/2/2000).
Protocol of the 8th session of the joint committee on scientific and technological cooperation (Beijing, 16/10/2000).

III. Political relations: In the political sphere, Greece

supports the principle of one

China

. Visits were made to

China

in 2004 by, amongst others, the Minister for Tourism, Mr. D. Avramopoulos, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. I. Valinakis, the President of Athens 2004, Mrs. Y. Angelopoulou-Daskalaki and the Secretary of the New Democracy party, Mr. V. Meimarakis. In early 2005 the Minister for Public Order, Mr. G. Voulgarakis, also visited the country . The Prime Minister Mr. C. Caramanlis paid an official visit to China from the 19th to the 21st January 2006.

IV. Economic and trade relations

Trade:

Greek-Chinese balance of trade according to available Chinese statistics, in thousands of US $
2000				2001
Total	Greek imports	Greek exports	Balance	Total	Greek imports	Greek exports	Balance
626,770	578.700	48.070	-530.630	752.320	693.820	58.500	-635.320

2002				2003
Total	Greek imports	Greek exports	Balance	Total	Greek imports	Greek exports	Balance
787.000	731.950	55.600	-676.350	1.188.300	1.113.640	74.670	-1.038.970

2004 January-October
Total	Greek imports	Greek exports	Balance
1.186.620	1.115.520	71.100	-1.044.420

Figures for the Peoples Republic of China do not include Hong Kong or Macao.

Greeces main imports and exports for the first half of 2004, according to the figures issued by the National Office of Statistics in November of the same year and covering the period January-June, are as follows:

Greek exports 1^st half of 2004		Greek imports 1^st half of 2004
Product	Value in $1,000	Product	Value in $1,000
Marble	1.0329,0	Air conditioning units	63.085,2
Aluminium sheets	3.101,2	Plastic bags	28.537,4
Integrated circuits	2.332,4	Computers	18.756,9
Cotton	2.115,6	DVD, video appliances, etc.	15.202,9
Copper filings	1.585,5	Toys	13.653,0
Aluminium filings	1428,6	Hats, etc.	12.728,5
Oil	719,1	Plastic office items	11.085,9
Parts for electrical measuring equipment	491,9	Taps, pipes, etc.	9.779,6
Paints	444,9	Computer parts	9.742,5
TOTAL	28.410,1		827.624,8

(Source: National Office of Statistics November 2004)

Greek investments (FDI): According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Greek investments from 1992 to late September 2004 amounted to a total of 49 investment projects, with total contracted capital of US$1.10 billion and investments realised to the tune of US$58.49m.

Figures for the last three years are presented in the table below:

Greek Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)	Number of projects	Contracted Direct Investment	Actual FDI
2002 Jan Dec	4	US$ 8.420.000	US$ 6.170.000
2003 Jan Dec	6	US$ 2.530.000	US$ 1.770.000
2004 Jan Oct.	3	US$ -2.030.000	US$ 28.190.000

Primary areas of interest for Greece: marble, mining of raw materials, plastics, metal industry, clothing.

Tourism: An ADS agreement has been reached which, from the 1^st September 2004, allows Chinese tourists to visit Europe for the purposes of tourism (Schengen area).

V.Cultural relations:

-Major Greek cultural activities:

1) Greece-China educational programme (2003-2006)

2) Exhibition: Ancient Greece: mortals and immortals

National Museum of Chinese History, Tian An Men Square, Beijing

(July 2004- March 2005)

Museum of Jinan, Shandong

(April - June 2005)

- Cultural agencies with Greek ties:

1. Centre for Hellenic Studies, University of Beijing (founded December 2001)

2. Department of Greek Studies, University of International Studies, Shanghai (founded1972)

3. Teaching of Greek language in special state-of-the-art Thucydides Room at the University of Foreign Languages of the Peoples Liberation Army in Wu Liang (founded November 2004).

VI. Greek community: There are just ten Greek nationals registered with the Embassys Consular Office, but it is estimated that there are around one hundred Greeks living in various cities across China (Shanghai, Canton, Hong Kong). Hong Kong is also the site of the Metropolitan Church of Hong Kong and South-East Asia, which comes under the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

METROPOLITAN CHURCH OF HONG KONG AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA

704 Universal Trade Center

3, Arbuthnot Rd., S.A.R.

Tel.: 00852 25738328

Fax: 00852 25738379

Founded: 1996

Metropolite: Nikitas, Metropolitan Bishop of Hong Kong and Exarch of the Far East

AGHIA SOPHIA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AND SISTERHOOD OF THE POOR

METROPOLITAN CHURCH OF HONG KONG

Founded: 1998

AGHIA MARINA GREEK SCHOOL

Founded: 1998

CATHEDRAL OF ST. APOSTOLOS & LUKE THE EVANGELIST

704 Universal Trade Center

3, Arbuthnot Rd., S.A.R.

VII. Embassy details