Guangzhou Mayor Sun Zhiyang met with Evgenios Kalpyris, Greek Ambassador to China, and his delegation on October 26, as the two sides explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation in shipping, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.
Sun welcomed Kalpyris and congratulated the Consulate General of Greece in Guangzhou on the opening of its new premises. He said Guangzhou and Greece had a long history of exchanges and active economic and trade ties. During a visit to Greece in 2024, Sun visited Piraeus and Chalandri, where he saw considerable potential for further cooperation between Guangzhou and Greek cities.
Sun noted that 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership and the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). Guangzhou is expanding its opening-up, supporting the development of the Canton Fair, and accelerating the development of a modern industrial system with international competitiveness.
Looking ahead, Guangzhou hopes to deepen cooperation with Greece in modern shipping, trade and people-to-people exchanges, Sun said. The two sides could strengthen sister-city and friendly-port ties, explore opportunities in shipbuilding and the cruise industry, and establish a cross-border e-commerce channel linking Greece with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
He also proposed promoting tourism between the two sides through joint marketing of travel routes, drawing on their respective cultural and tourism resources. Sun invited Kalpyris to attend the 2026 Global Mayors Forum and events associated with the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation, where he could share experiences in urban governance and contribute to discussions on sustainable urban development.
Sun added that Guangzhou would continue to improve its business environment to meet international standards, offering better services to Greek companies and other international investors.
Kalpyris said China and Greece were both ancient civilisations with a history of exchanges spanning more than 2,000 years. With 2027 marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Greece, Greece was willing to serve as a bridge for China-Europe cooperation and strengthen mutual support on international diplomatic platforms, he said. Kalpyris also said Greece was ready to expand practical cooperation with Guangzhou in trade, shipping and tourism, and to encourage Greek businesses to participate in trade events such as the Canton Fair.
Gina Andreadi, Consul General of Greece in Guangzhou, also attended the meeting.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Daily
