Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed his government’s intent to further develop relations with China, speaking at a reception on Thursday evening in honor of visiting Chinese Navy officers.

The Chinese officers serve on a flotilla of Chinese naval vessels that paid a courtesy call to the port of Piraeus this week.

Tsipras referred to humanitarian cooperation between the two countries in Albania and Libya, saying that this is the basis for economic cooperation at many levels.

“Greece will always support the Chinese people in times of need”, he said, while adding: “maritime cooperation between the two nations constitutes a strong basis for both countries.”

“We pay great attention to the existing Chinese (economic) activity in Greece, including Cosco, for the common benefit of our peoples. We equally give great attention to the promotion of Piraeus as a hub, not only in Europe but worldwide,” Tsipras said, adding:

“We are ready to support China’s links to Europe, with Greece serving as China’s gateway into Europe,” he emphasized.