Ambassador of Greece to China Leonidas Rokanas visits prestigious Chinese Academic Institutions Headquarters of Confucius Institute

Greece's Ambassador to China, Leonidas Rokanas, was among the key speakers from foreign embassies in Beijing, during a forum organized by Han Ban, at the Headquarters of the Confucius Institute, with the presence of Han Ban President Ms Xu Lin. The main topic of the one-day forum was "Cultural Diversity on the Silk Roads". 

Ambassador Rokanas referred to the historical analogies between the times of Confucius and the era of great Greek philosophers in Greece, such as Plato and Aristotle. He also praised the work of Han Ban in promoting globally the culture of China.

Greece is part of the ancient and modern Silk Roads and fully supports the OBOR initiative initiated by China's President Xi Jinping in 2013. Greece although far away from China geographically, is in many respects closer than never before to China, Amb. Rokanas noted. The Maritime Silk Roads are significant for both China and Greece, as the latter has always been a global maritime power: China and Greece are thus bound to work with each other as great maritime nations.

With regard to civilization, Ambassador noted that economic and technological progress as well as trade linkages and economic development are always linked to culture and ideas; OBOR's success may therefore come through the advancement of both culture and civilization, and the promotion of our understanding and knowledge of each other. Amb. Rokanas concluded.