ATHENS – The presence of the King and Queen of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander and Maxima, in Athens, confirms the excellent relations between the two countries, President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said on Monday evening.

Moreover, it shows the will for the further deepening of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, she noted.

The Greek president was speaking at an official dinner held at the presidency in honor of the Dutch royal couple, who are carrying out a three-day official visit to Athens and Thessaloniki.

“Our bond with the sea, our trade, and the restless spirit of our peoples all paint the history of our nations, that have excelled over the centuries as powerful naval and commercial powers,” Sakellaropoulou added.

King Willem-Alexander expressed great satisfaction and joy for the fact that both he and his spouse Queen Maxima are visiting the Hellenic Republic after two previous cancellations.

He emphasized that “we will pay all due attention to issues that we struggle with, within the European Union, such as the reception of migrants,” and he noted that this particular issue has been “a great challenge for Greece, due to its geographical location.”

In this context, he argued that “it is a source of inspiration for the Netherlands to work with you in the field of innovation,” and cited the Orange Grove, a hub for young entrepreneurs.

“We [also] see many other opportunities to deepen our cooperation, for example in the field of defense,” he added, “and also in the transition to a cleaner and more environmentally neutral economy.”