Attica Region governor talks synergies with firms, agencies at Shanghai conference

Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias attended the ITB China 2024 Conference in Shanghai from May 27 to 29, reaching agreements with Chinese participants in the travel-related meeting, ANA reports.

The Region of Attica shared a kiosk with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) at the annual event, which focuses on China's domestic travel market.

According to a related statement, during the three-day conference Hardalias focused on the issues of extending the cruise ship dock at Piraeus, which will upgrade Greece's tourism product; creating a help desk to facilitate Chinese companies active in the Region of Attica; boosting economic relations with Shanghai's Municipal People's Government; and the prospect of holding a broad cooperation meeting between Greece and China in the sectors of tourism, culture, commerce, shipping, and education.

Among the meetings the Greek regional governor organized were with Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and the head of foreign relations Kong Fuan, all of whom agreed to boost economic and trade relations between the two entities, on the basis of relevant memoranda signed. 

Hardalias paid a visit to the Cosco Shipping facilities, where he met with the President and Director of the Board Zhu Bixin, and members of the board. The Greek official concluded his visit to Shanghai at the local chapter of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the city's Chamber of Commerce and Business, where he met with CCPIT Vice-President Gu Chunting and managers, along with representatives of the largest businesses active in the area.

Commenting at the conclusion of his visit, Hardalias noted, "The meetings we had with top-level representatives of the local authorities and business world of Shanghai show the strong interest in enhancing our relations. The collaboration of the Region of Attica with China is continuous, not disjointed, based on a specific strategy with clear targets that are designed with tight deadlines and provide measurable results. The fields of collaboration are numerous and beneficial: tourism, culture, shipping, trade, and education can become the object of broad synergies, with significant benefits for both peoples."

He said the Attica Region had tabled a proposal for a broad Greece-China Collaboration Summit in October, based on the six-month anniversary of the direct flights between Athens and Shanghai, while he also noted that the city of Shanghai will participate in the International Culture Festival of the Region of Attica in the summer of 2026.

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