ATHENS — Greece strives to have good neighbour relations with all countries in the region and constitutes a factor of stability whereas Turkey is, by contrast, "undermining dialogue by violating international law and Greece's sovereign rights," President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said at a meeting with the director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, Yang Jiechi, at the presidential mansion on Friday.

On his part, Jiechi agreed with the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, noting that China is closely monitoring the situation. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he added that China supports efforts for a just and viable solution, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council. In parallel, he conveyed to Sakellaropoulou the regards of Chinese President Xi Jinping and underlined that his visit aims to further enchance bilateral relations between China and Greece.

Sakellaropoulou noted that Greece also desires to further enhance bilateral relations with China in all sectors and thanked Yang for his country's generous assistance and the dispatch of health supplies sent at the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Chinese official congratulated Greece for the effective way it has dealt with the pandemic, underlining that both countries support multilateral collaboration and the role of the World Health Organisation.

Finally, the Greek president said that Greece-China Culture Year 2021, which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, will provide the opportunity for more actions that will bring the people of Greece and China, two countries that both have very ancient civilisations, closer.

Jiechi is visiting Spain and Greece this week, as both countries are facing increasing pressure to take sides between their security alliance with the US and vast business interest with China.