On May 9, Zhang Qingli, vice-chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the China Economic and Social Council (CESC), held talks with President of the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) of Greece  Ioannis Paidas in Beijing.

At the invitation of the CESC, the ESC delegation headed by Paidas has been visiting China since May 9 and will continue the visit until May 13.

Zhang said that under the strategic guidance and with the joint promotion of the leaders of China and Greece, the two countries have strengthened mutual political trust, expanded economic and trade ties, maintained the good momentum of bilateral exchanges, and cemented people-to-people friendship. The CESC is ready to join hands with the ESC to strengthen communication and exchanges, push for further development of pragmatic cooperation between the two organizations, and make greater contributions to the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Paidas said that the two organizations have maintained close contact and both sides have had multiple exchange visits. Against the backdrop of the global turbulence, he called for closer exchanges between the two organizations in order to inject fresh impetus into China-Greece cooperation and China-Europe relations.