The Embassy of China in Greece reacted strongly, through its spokesperson, to Kimberly Guilfoyle’s statements regarding the Port of Piraeus.

Responding to a question that the new U.S. ambassador to Athens “in an interview with the media urged Greece to ‘sell the Port of Piraeus to counterbalance Chinese influence,’” the spokesperson spoke of “a malicious slander of the normal Sino-Greek commercial cooperation and a serious interference in Greece’s internal affairs,” while describing these statements as “steeped in Cold War mentality and hegemonic logic.”

In detail, the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Greece stated:

“The new American Ambassador to Greece, during her interview, launched baseless attacks against the investment and operation of the Port of Piraeus by Chinese enterprises. This constitutes a malicious slander of the normal Sino-Greek commercial cooperation and a serious interference in Greece’s internal affairs. The statements in question, steeped in Cold War mentality and hegemonic thinking, run counter to the fundamental professional ethics of a diplomat and fully reveal the insidious intention of the United States to serve its own geopolitical interests by exploiting the Port of Piraeus and even Greece itself. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and categorical opposition.

China and Greece are friends who stand by each other in difficult times and cooperate for mutual benefit. The cooperation between the two countries is based solely on mutual support, without geopolitical calculations; it neither targets third parties nor is influenced by third parties. When Greece was facing the debt crisis, China extended a helping hand, allowing the Port of Piraeus to develop into one of the top major ports in the Mediterranean and Europe, creating tens of thousands of jobs and offering significant economic benefits to Greece. The success of the Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus is not only a model of Sino-Greek commercial cooperation but also evidence of the mutual support between the two peoples in difficult times. In the future, Chinese enterprises will continue to increase their investments and, together with the industrious and wise Greek people, will contribute to the even better development of the port.

The Port of Piraeus belongs forever to the Greek people; it is not a tool for undermining regional prosperity and stability, and under no circumstances should it fall victim to geopolitical confrontation. At a time when the Port of Piraeus is developing rapidly, the United States, with self-serving intentions, is inciting Greece to terminate its contractual obligations and sell the port — this practice is a typical example of imposing one’s own thinking on others and reveals a mentality that seeks to undermine stability. These schemes, which show that the United States judges others by its own standards and clearly serves its own purposes, are doomed to fail before the Greek people, bearers of millennia of culture and wisdom. We would advise the Ambassador to seriously reflect on the words and actions with which she has offended the Greek people in the past, and to ensure that her actions are consistent with her role and benefit the Greek people.”

Foreign Ministry: Greece respects the agreements concluded in the past

The spokesperson of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lana Zochiou, responding to a question about Kimberly Guilfoyle’s statements, said: “The Prime Minister himself has spoken on this several times, that the Port of Piraeus, 67% of the port, was granted to the Chinese during the fiscal crisis in Greece, and they were the only ones who submitted an offer. There is no question of aligning with the U.S. as a strategic partner on issues that concern the protection of our common interests.”

“Greece respects the agreements that have been concluded in the past, so I don’t think I have anything more to add on that. Secondly, it is obvious that we are open to investment matters, but this is not something that falls within our competencies,” added the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.