Outgoing President Karolos Papoulias met with Chinese representatives, including Chinese Navy Adm. Zhang Chuanshu and crew members of the Changbaishan warship, whom he received at the presidential mansion on Thursday.

The Chinese navy delegation was accompanied by the Chinese ambassador in Greece, Xiaoli Zou.

Papoulias stressed the “brotherly” relation between the two countries in all areas, and added that “we deeply appreciate the intent of the Chinese to make Piraeus the largest port in the Mediterranean”.

On his part, the Zhang expressed his pleasure and honor for meeting Papoulias, whom he called a great friend of China and the Chinese people.