Officials and business leaders have called on China and Greece to further strengthen practical cooperation in maritime affairs, finance and green development as the global shipping industry accelerates its transition toward greener, smarter and more digital operations.
The call was made at the Posidonia China Night event held in Athens on Wednesday evening during Posidonia 2026, one of the world's leading maritime exhibitions. More than 200 representatives from government agencies, businesses, shipping companies, financial institutions and media organizations from China and Greece attended the event, engaging in discussions on shipbuilding, port operations, maritime finance and industrial and supply chain cooperation.
In his address, Chinese Ambassador to Greece Fang Qiu noted that this year marks both the launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Greece.
He said these milestones provide an important opportunity for the two countries to deepen cooperation and advance efforts to build a maritime community with a shared future.
Fang called on both sides to continue promoting port cooperation, helping Greece strengthen its role as a strategic logistics hub in the Eastern Mediterranean and a key gateway connecting Europe and Asia. He also urged greater integration in high-value maritime services, including shipping finance, insurance and arbitration, while emphasizing the importance of advancing green and digital transformation in the shipping sector and jointly developing international green shipping corridors.
Stefanos Gkikas, Greek deputy minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, praised the close maritime cooperation between Greece and China in recent years.
He noted that approximately 43 percent of Greek-owned vessels are currently built in China and that cooperation in shipbuilding and marine equipment continues to deepen.
Gkikas also thanked the large number of Chinese companies participating in Posidonia 2026. This year's exhibition attracted more than 2,200 companies from 83 countries and regions, including nearly 250 Chinese enterprises, a record high.
George Prokopiou, a prominent Greek shipowner, said that since placing his first shipbuilding orders in China in 2005, he has witnessed continuous improvements in the technological capabilities and service standards of Chinese shipyards.
He said that through openness, innovation and international cooperation, China has made remarkable progress and emerged as a global leader in shipbuilding, shipping and infrastructure development.
Xiao Wenlin, General Manager of Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), said that Greek shipowners have long been very important partners of CSSC.
He said the company is committed to working with its Greek counterparts to build an innovation ecosystem featuring technological collaboration, industrial synergy and shared standards. CSSC will continue to strengthen its integrated technology-product-service value chain and actively participate in the development of global standards and regulations for green and intelligent shipping.
Zhao Nan, head of the Athens branch of Bank of China (Europe) S.A., announced that the bank will establish a shipping finance center in Athens in response to the evolving needs of the global maritime industry.
The center will focus on ship financing, green finance, foreign exchange risk management and cross-border use of the Renminbi (RMB), leveraging the bank's global network to provide comprehensive financial services to Chinese and Greek shipowners and shipyards.
Georgios Kagklis, president of the Chinese-Hellenic Association for Economic and Cultural Development, said that China Night serves not only as a networking event but also as a practical platform that strengthens ties between Chinese and Greek businesses and institutions.
He said the event creates an efficient environment for dialogue and cooperation, laying a solid foundation for future partnerships.
During the event, a report titled Navigating the Deep Blue with Intelligence, Ushering in a Green Future: Report on the Green and Intelligent Development of China's Shipbuilding Industry was jointly released by Shanghai Headquarters of China Economic Information Service, China Shipbuilding Economic Research Center and Xinhua News Agency's Europe Regional Bureau.
Industry experts said the report provides the global maritime community with a comprehensive view of the achievements across China's shipbuilding value chain, highlighting the country's progress in green and intelligent transformation.
They noted that the report will help international shipowners and maritime institutions better understand China's shipbuilding industry and contribute Chinese solutions to the green and low-carbon transformation of the global maritime sector.
Several milestone ceremonies were also held during the event, including the launch of the CSSC Greece Representative Office, the unveiling of the "Athens Moment" initiative under the CSSC Global Service (CSGS) brand, and the inauguration of the Bank of China (Europe) Shipping Finance Center.
Participants expressed hope that these initiatives would further promote the integration of industrial, financial and supply chains between China and Greece and create a new benchmark for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Posidonia China Night was jointly organized by the Embassy of China in Greece, China State Shipbuilding Corporation and China Economic Information Service, with the Athens branch of Bank of China (Europe) S.A. serving as a partner.
Featuring keynote speeches, report releases, networking activities and business meetings, the event provided a high-level platform for face-to-face exchanges between Chinese exhibitors and Greek shipping, financial and maritime service institutions.
Participants said the event will continue to promote cooperation and contribute to the sustainable development of the global maritime industry.
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