头条英文播报｜Xi calls for stronger Greece ties

President Xi Jinping holds talks with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Athens, Greece, Nov 11, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Two ancient civilizations uphold similar beliefs, achieved own modernization, president says

China and Greece should work together to construct the Belt and Road and build China-Europe land and maritime routes into key channels for cargo transportation, President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

Xi made the remark while meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Athens amid his ongoing state visit to the Mediterranean nation.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen mutual political trust, deepen practical cooperation and contribute their wisdom as ancient countries to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and Greece, both being ancient civilizations, uphold similar beliefs and have achieved their own modernization through hard work, Xi said, adding that mutual learning is a fundamental need for the development of civilizations.

The world is undergoing great changes unseen in the past century, and the two countries should deepen cooperation, promote exchanges among their civilizations and stimulate the building of a more reasonable and fairer international order, Xi said.

Xi called on the two countries to set a leading example for Sino-European cooperation through boosting openness and expanding practical cooperation.

China would like to make joint efforts with Greece to promote cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, Xi said.

Xi reaffirmed China's stance on exchanges between different civilizations, saying that mankind should pursue morality rather than egoism.

China will never seek hegemony, nor will the country approve the concept of a zero-sum game, because Chinese people don't possess such cultural genes or ambitions, Xi said.

Both China and Greece support mutual exchanges and mutual learning, and both sides oppose the absurd theory of conflicts among civilizations, Xi said.

The two countries should also make coordinated efforts to maintain multilateralism, enhance coordination on major global issues, enhance multilateral cooperation under such frameworks as the United Nations and remain dedicated to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Pavlopoulos said that Greeks naturally have friendly feelings toward Chinese as both countries are ancient civilizations.

It is great to see that the People's Republic of China has made such outstanding achievements over the past 70 years, he said.

Both Greece and China promote dialogue among civilizations, and Greece firmly opposes the so-called theory of civilizational conflict because real civilizations will not cause conflicts, Pavlopoulos said, adding that conflicts will not resolve problems.

China's historical traditions and the country's development now refute the theory of conflict among civilizations and the theory of any country seeking hegemony, he said.

Xi also met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday and the two jointly witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents covering such areas as investment, ports, finance, energy and education.

The two countries also issued a joint statement on further strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.

China will take firm steps to boost opening-up, and the country would like to bring more opportunities to all countries, including Greece, Xi told Mitsotakis.

China and Greece should connect the building of the Belt and Road with Greece's strategy of building an important international logistics hub, Xi said.

Find more audio news on the China Daily app.

记者：安百杰

播报：James McCarthy

【阅读背景】

习近平同希腊总统帕夫洛普洛斯会谈

当地时间11月11日，国家主席习近平在雅典同希腊总统帕夫洛普洛斯会谈。两国元首一致同意，巩固政治互信，深化务实合作，促进文明对话，为推动构建人类命运共同体贡献东西方文明古国的智慧。

习近平强调，我怀着对文明的尊重和对未来的期许来到希腊。每次你我之间的交谈，每次中希之间的交流，都能产生“酒逢知己千杯少”的共鸣。这是因为中希作为两大文明古国，有着相通或相近的理念，也都经历艰苦卓绝的奋斗才实现国家现代化发展。交流互鉴是文明发展的本质要求。中希友好不仅是两国的合作，更是两大文明的对话。当今世界正在经历百年未有之大变局，我希望两国共同努力，深化合作，以跨越时空的文明成果，推动兼收并蓄的文明交流，倡导更加公正合理的国际秩序，让中希两个文明古国在新时代焕发出新的光芒。

一是树立友好互信互利共赢的典范。要密切各层级交往，深化政治互信，在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上继续给予对方坚定支持。要共建“一带一路”，将中欧陆海快线建成中欧货物运输和互联互通的重要通道。要密切文化和奥运等领域交流，便利人员往来。

二是树立开放务实促进中欧合作的典范。中方愿同希方一道，推动中国同中东欧国家合作及中欧整体关系的发展。

三是树立文化交流文明互鉴的典范。人类应该秉持和追求高尚的情操，而不是奉行利己主义，一味追逐赤裸裸的利益。中国人自古以来信奉“己所不欲，勿施于人”、“天下为公”、“和谐万邦”的理念，中国绝不会搞国强必霸，也不认同你输我赢的零和游戏，因为中国人从来没有这种文化基因，也没有这种野心。中国的发展始终是世界和平力量的增长。中希都支持文明交流互鉴，反对文明冲突谬论。双方应该继续发挥各自文化底蕴优势，共同打造不同文明以及各国人民和谐共处之道，为当今世界和平和人类进步提供更多有益启示。

四是树立协调配合维护多边主义的典范。加强在重大国际和地区问题上的协调，密切在联合国等多边框架内合作，致力于构建开放型世界经济，共同推动构建人类命运共同体。

帕夫洛普洛斯表示，希腊人民对中国有天然的亲近感，因为希中都是古老的文明国度。希腊对中华人民共和国成立70年来取得的非凡成就感到由衷高兴。希中都主张不同文明求同存异，取长补短，交流对话，和平共处。希腊坚决反对所谓“文明冲突论”，因为真正意义上的文明不会产生冲突，冲突也解决不了问题。一个国家用“文明冲突论”来制定国家政策将是十分荒谬和非常有害的。无论是中国的历史文化传统，还是当今中国日益开放、进步、发展的事实，中国都有力地回击了“文明冲突论”和“国强必霸论”。在当今充满不确定性的世界，中国主张和平、和谐和平衡，为解决各种全球性问题提供了十分有益的借鉴和方案。希腊将继续坚定支持中方维护自身核心利益，热切期待同中国加强经贸、文化等领域合作，积极同中国共建“一带一路”，相信习近平主席的访问将推动希中关系进入新的时代，迈上新的高度。希方愿继续致力于同中方一道，推动欧中关系的发展、促进中东欧－中国合作，携手为促进国际公平正义和人类发展进步作出贡献。

会谈前，帕夫洛普洛斯为习近平举行隆重欢迎仪式。

习近平和夫人彭丽媛抵达时，受到帕夫洛普洛斯和夫人弗拉西娅热情迎接。

仪仗兵身着传统礼服整装列队。习近平在帕夫洛普洛斯陪同下检阅仪仗队，军乐队奏中希两国国歌。两国元首夫妇分别同对方陪同人员一一握手。

当天，习近平向希腊无名战士纪念碑献花圈。

丁薛祥、杨洁篪、王毅、何立峰等参加上述活动。（来源： 新华网）

原文链接：

http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2019-11/11/c_1125218942.htm