ATHENS — "Greece doesn't only have a glorious past but also a very promising future. We have left behind the years of the crisis and this is now a country that exudes a new air of self-confidence," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined in his address during an online event to honour the bicentennial of the 1821 Greek Revolution at the Canadian House of Commons, in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Speaking late on Sunday and referring to the difficult conditions created by the pandemic, Mitsotakis underlined: "I especially worried about the younger generation. I have the sense that they sometimes feel they are the ones that have lost out as a result of this tremendous change that is taking place. Our duty when thinking in the long-term is to focus on the young and ensure that the growth without exclusions that we envisage concerns them also. It is a different generation, they think in a different way and we must speak their language and this is a huge challenge for us, to make policy and civil services something that concerns the younger generation."

During the meeting it was agreed that there is a range of issues that both the neoliberal leaders have on their agendas, such as climate change, energy, inclusive growth with emphasis on opportunities for the young and gender equality. "I would like to congratulate you for the steps you have takes on issues such as gender equality. In Greece we are not yet at this point but it remains an important issue on our agenda," Mitsotakis said, addressing Trudeau.

On his part, Trudeau said that the Greek community is a pillar of Canadian society. "The Greek-Canadians enrich our culture, our enterpreneurship, as well as the sciences and, of course, the arts. This community has strengthened our bonds with Greece, something that will allow us to work jointly to build a better future for all," he said.

Mitstotakis also said that "we want the Canadians and mostly the Greek-Canadians to take part in Greece's success story. I am absolutely certain that, after the end of the pandemic, the Greek economy will grow at well over the average rate of the EU and I am very happy, dear Justin, that many Canadian companies will be part of this success story. We have important Canadian investments in Greece and I would urge more Canadian companies to consider Greece as an investment opportunity."