ATHENS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday spoke highly of the civilization exchanges between his country and Greece, hailing the mutual learning between the two ancient civilizations as exemplary.
The comments came as Wang and his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias met with journalists after holding a meeting one day ahead of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, which will open here on Monday.
Wang told the press conference that 45 years after China and Greece established their diplomatic relations, the two countries have been maintaining a healthy, stable and smooth development momentum.
The two economic and trade partners, the senior Chinese diplomat said, are deepening and expanding their pragmatic cooperation in various areas while upholding the principle of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.
Wang cited the Piraeus Port as a highlight of the bilateral cooperation, which he said is helping Greece to get ride of the impact of the financial crisis and sending a signal of China's confidence in the prospect of Greece's development.
He said the two countries stand ready to provide solutions to today's difficulties and challenges with the wisdom derived from their ancient civilizations.
The coming Ancient Civilization Forum is a Greek initiative with China as co-organizer and will be attended by 10 countries representing major ancient civilizations. The countries also include Bolivia, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mexico and Peru.
Wang said the forum serves as the platform where all participants can communicate and learn from each other so as to achieve common prosperity and development.
Wang said the forum has provided dynamism in both thought and culture for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
"The Ancient Civilization Forum and the Road and Belt Initiative can be essentially traced to the same origin," he said.