By Michalis Psilos

 

 

The Group of Naftemporiki and China Media Group (CMG) signed a memorandum of cooperation on Monday in the framework of a Greek-Chinese conference entitled "An ancient path for modern prosperity" for the "Belt and Road" dialogue.

 

The memorandum of cooperation was signed by the founder of Aegean Oil, Dimitris Melissanidis, and Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee and President of China Media Group (CMC).

 

Based on the Maritime Memorandum of Understanding - CMG, the two media groups agreed:

 

-  Enhancing collaboration on important news, sharing resources and acquiring images and videos, creating live connections with journalists to provide real-time information and coverage of important events.

 

-  Exchange and transmission of financial and economic content, including but not limited to the joint production of news reports and articles on the economy, entrepreneurship and shipping.

 

-  Jointly organizing events, including forums and panels in both countries.

 

AEGEAN PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT

 

"Naftemporiki's cooperation agreement with China Media Group (CMG), one of the largest media groups in the world, is a huge contribution to our effort to strengthen Greece's economic, trade and maritime relations with the world's second largest economy," the founder of Aegean Oil, Dimitris Melissanidis, said after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.

 

"Based on this cooperation, Naftemporiki will be able to showcase the country's achievements in China, but also give the possibility to Greek shipowners, businessmen, investors to explore and take advantage of the extraordinary possibilities offered by the Chinese market.

 

Following the memorandum of cooperation that we signed with Mr. Shen, Naftemporiki and CMG will jointly establish broad partnerships in the exchange of news content, the co-production of television programs as well as the exchange of know-how on technology," he underlined.

 

"With its huge broadcast network - for example: 47 TV channels, of which seven are international in six languages - will, through the cooperation with Naftemporiki, transmit the news of Greece to 138 countries and regions throughout the world.

 

I would like to wish the two media groups to have constructive cooperation for the benefit of the two countries that have an ancient culture."

 

Greek-Chinese conference: "An ancient path to modern prosperity"

 

 

China Media Group organized the event "An Ancient Path to Modern Prosperity" - "Belt and Road" Dialogue between China and Greece in a central hotel in Athens.

 

The Chinese group was represented at the event by Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee and President of China Media Group (CMC). The former President of the Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Tourism Minister, Olga Kefalogianni, the Chinese Ambassador to Athens, Xiao Junzheng, addressed the event, while the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, sent a video message.

 

The event was also attended by the Regional Governor of Attica, George Patoulis, the president of Aegean Oil, Dimitris Melissanidis and representatives from the Greek financial, shipping, cultural, and sports sectors.

 

Greece and Belt and Road

 

"Greece is one of the most important participants in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that was launched 10 years ago by Chinese President Xi Jinping," Shen Haixiong said at the opening of the event.

 

Shen also mentioned that the ancient thinkers of Greece and China had similar ideas, and the Chinese are familiar with the words of the Sages of Ancient Greece, such as Socrates and Plato. "The various cultural activities launched are an integral part of the mutual exchange of knowledge between Greek and Chinese culture. We are inspired by the effort to explore the answers to the challenges of the world today, from these two ancient civilizations of Greece and China," the Chinese official underlined. He added that CMG Group, one of the largest international media organizations in the world, will cooperate with various institutions in Greece to jointly promote the Greek and Chinese culture, build bridges for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, which will contribute to the progress of the world culture and the creation of a community with a common future, strengthening peace in the troubled world.

 

Cultural and tourism cooperation programs

 

Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, in her video message, underlined that the Greek Ministry of Culture promotes various cultural cooperation programs with China, such as the organization of archaeological exhibitions and the establishment of Greek cultural centers. "In recent years, CMG has achieved remarkable development initiatives, and I believe that cooperation with CMG is undoubtedly an important opportunity for the Greek Ministry of Culture to take Greek and Chinese culture a step forward," the Minister of Culture stated.

 

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni underlined that Greece and China share similar values as two ancient countries with great cultures. "Greece has natural beauty and a brilliant ancient cultural heritage. The tourism industry has built a bridge of friendship between Greece and people from all over the world. Over the last years, the Greek Ministry of Tourism has made significant efforts for tourism development," Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said and estimated that Greece will welcome more Chinese tourists to become ambassadors of Greece-China friendship.

 

Cooperation between "Naftemporiki"- CMG

 

On his part, China's Ambassador to Athens, Xiao Junzheng, emphasized that mutual knowledge and exchange are basic requirements for the development of civilizations, which serve as a vital foundation for building a human community with a common future. "The cooperation between the media and cultural institutions from both China and Greece represents a valuable exploration to promote mutual knowledge between Chinese and Greek culture," the Chinese ambassador noted.