Former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis sent messages to both the government and US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle during his speech at the Greek-Chinese Chamber of Commerce commemorating 30 years since its establishment. Specifically, the former prime minister defended his government’s political choice for maritime cooperation with China against US pressure to “expel” COSCO from the port of Piraeus. In the aftermath of American Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle’s statements, the former prime minister emphasized the importance of COSCO’s investment in developing the port of Piraeus. “Today, the port of Piraeus is the 8th largest in the world, 3rd in Europe and the largest in the Mediterranean, according to recent measurements,” the former prime minister stressed. It should be noted that the event was held under the auspices of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Hellenic Republic and organized with the support of the Union of Banking and Financial Executives of Greek Shipping.
Read: Europe’s intense “concerns” about China’s investments in Greece – Kostas Karamanlis, Cosco and the sharp European texts
Kostas Karamanlis: The message to the government and indirect response to Guilfoyle’s statements about Piraeus port
Responding indirectly to Kimberly Guilfoyle’s recent statements on ANT1 about China’s presence at Piraeus port through COSCO, emphasizing that: “it is unfortunate, but I think there are ways to bypass it, to find a solution,” the former prime minister conveyed that: “It should be noted that, during that period, no other serious international player had expressed interest in the port of Piraeus. The fact that today there is intense activity towards creating competitive port infrastructure is the best proof of the success of that political choice.” Indeed, he also sent his message to the government as, referring indirectly but clearly to the keen US interest in further utilizing ports on Greek territory, Kostas Karamanlis emphasized that: “Our government had a multidimensional approach to its foreign policy, with emphasis on economic diplomacy and aimed at making Greece a strategic hub for the broader region.”
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Full address by former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis at the Greek-Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Dear members of the Board of Directors
and members of the Greek-Chinese Commercial, Industrial,
Tourism & Maritime Chamber,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank you for the honor you do me today. The 30th anniversary of the founding of the Greek-Chinese Chamber marks a long journey of contribution to Greek-Chinese business relations and contribution to the business development of our country. And it updates the geopolitical vision we share for establishing Greece as a hub of development and cooperation in the region by utilizing all our comparative advantages.
Almost twenty years ago, Greece and China agreed and managed to give unprecedented momentum to our relations. Until then, our political contacts were sporadic and our economic relations limited. At first glance, it is not apparent what made two countries, so distant from each other and so different in terms of size, economy and geopolitics, since Greece is a member of NATO and the EU, give such impetus to their relations in such a short time. Nevertheless, in 2006 we signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement that put Greek-Chinese relations on a new basis and gave them truly strategic character. We were helped by circumstances, but primarily by the convergence of political will and strategic aspirations from both sides.
The coincidental circumstance of successive organization of Olympic Games by our two countries led us to come closer. The passing of the Olympic torch from Athens in 2004 to Beijing in 2008 gave us a unique opportunity to collaborate on an issue that referred to a common characteristic: the ancient character of our civilizations. Something to which we both attach particular importance and which we honor through time. We then saw the opportunity that presented itself for a more intensive bilateral approach. In 2005 we established a Joint Olympic Cooperation Committee aimed at cooperation and offering China the know-how acquired during the organization of the Athens Olympic Games.
This was the circumstance. However, at the same time, there was also convergence of complementary strategic aspirations of Greece and China. Our government had a multidimensional approach to its foreign policy, with emphasis on economic diplomacy and aimed at making Greece a strategic hub for the broader region. On the other hand, China’s economic development led it to extend its economic influence beyond its borders and Greece was chosen as the most suitable gateway to European markets.
Within this new dynamic framework, our government focused mainly on the shipping sector, trade and tourism. Our dynamic shipping sector was our great comparative advantage, upon which the main interests and priorities of both countries could meet. This was aided by readiness to proceed with privatization of important ports. At the same time, Greek exports, particularly those of quality agricultural products such as olive oil and wine, were central to our economic diplomacy. And in the tourism sector, Greece’s “heavy industry,” we saw a tremendous opportunity in the expected increase in Chinese tourist mobility. And indeed, at that time the path opened for a significant increase in trade, investment and tourist flows.
I would like to focus particularly on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement we signed in 2006, during my visit to China, and its strategic importance for our maritime cooperation sector. A basic parameter of this agreement was the provision that, given the unique importance of shipping and shipbuilding in bilateral economic and commercial relations, the two countries would encourage cooperation between our ports and shipping companies. We would also assist in direct maritime transport through our ports to neighboring countries and regions. The goal was to make Greece the main gateway for Chinese products to the Balkans and European markets. A second goal was possible assembly of Chinese products, before their entry into these markets, in factories that would be established in Greece. And the third goal was transport of these products to international markets through Greek-owned ships. Thus, this provision was the precursor to the flagship of the Greek-Chinese relationship: cooperation in the shipping sector.
Already in 2008, the official visit to Greece by President Hu Jintao established this cooperation with the signing of an agreement for COSCO to undertake operation and management of two container terminal stations at the port of Piraeus. The investment was one of the largest ever made in Greece. Today, the port of Piraeus is the 8th largest in the world, 3rd in Europe and the largest in the Mediterranean, according to recent measurements. It should be noted that, during that period, no other serious international player had expressed interest in the port of Piraeus. The fact that today there is intense activity towards creating competitive port infrastructure is the best proof of the success of that political choice.
At the same time, Greek shipowners quickly recognized the opportunities offered by emerging outward-looking Chinese development and the Chinese shipbuilding and repair industry. More than 60% of Chinese imports were transported by Greek-owned ships and about half of exports. Additionally, more than 400 Greek-owned ships were built in China over a period of 10-15 years, making Greek shipowners the most important customers of Chinese shipyards.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The momentum that Greek-Chinese relations acquired at that time offered many opportunities. However, it also met and continues to meet objective difficulties. While there may be significant differences between Greece and China, mainly in terms of scale, as well as integration into different geopolitical formations, there is mutual respect, which also stems from the ancient origins of our civilizations. The work this Chamber has been doing for the last 30 years is important, not only from a business perspective, but also in relation to Greece’s extroversion and its position in the region. Greece-China relations produce mutual benefits. With maritime sector actions and initiatives as the main pillar, we can be optimistic about the future.
