On November 18 local time, a promotional event for the Greek edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China was held in Athens, attended by over 100 guests from both China and Greece.
The event served as a vital platform for exchange and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, enabling attendees to share governance experiences, deepen mutual understanding, and build consensus, as they explored new ideas and approaches for broader practical cooperation across different dimensions. These interactions are expected to drive the high-quality and sustainable development of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese attendees discussed the strategic plans for promoting high-standard opening up adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with their Greek counterparts, who noted that China’s consistent formulation and implementation of five-year plans represents a unique strength and successful model of state governance. As China prepares to enter its 15th Five-year Plan period (2026-2030), Greek guests expressed their enthusiasm for sharing in the country’s cooperation opportunities offered by its open development.
Xie Gang, Vice President of China International Communications Group (CICG), stated that the publication of the Greek edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China will help Greek readers better understand China’s state governance experience in the new era, thus serving as a medium to strengthen mutual learning between Chinese and Greek civilizations and their practical cooperation and injecting new impetus into the development of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership. Propelled by deeper comprehensive reform, China upholds the fundamental principles of putting the people first in state governance, engaging in intercivilizational mutual learning, and championing multilateralism in global governance – principles that will help elevate the friendship between China and Greece to new heights.
In a speech at the event, Ioannis Kotoulas, Chair of the Greece-China Friendship Group in the Hellenic Parliament, recalled his meeting with President Xi Jinping in 2019. He stated that, while the promotional event was a tribute to an important book of political theory, it also served to deepen the friendly relations between China and Greece. Highlighting some of the book’s key ideas, including the pursuit of eco-civilization and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Kotoulas pointed out that such goals provide theoretical guidance for responding to current global challenges. With this in mind, he expressed his firm belief that Greece and China, as two nations united by their time-honored histories and a common vision for development, should pioneer new forms of practical cooperation and contribute to global development.
Chinese Ambassador to Greece Fang Qiu explained that Xi Jinping: The Governance of China outlines the theoretical foundations of China’s state governance, showcases the country’s openness and inclusiveness in pursuing development, and uncovers the value of mutual learning among civilizations in the modern context. He believes that the Greek edition of the book will serve as a bridge to facilitate communications between the Chinese and Greek civilizations, enabling more Greek readers to understand China’s governance philosophy and principles, savor the profound heritage of the country’s history and culture, learn about its ongoing reform and objectives, and grasp China’s development philosophy, development path, and domestic and international policies.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece George Katrougalos expounded on ideas in the book, including the people-centered approach to development, the development model based on long-term strategic plans, and China’s role as an active contributor to world stability and cooperation. He highlighted the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative as platforms that clarify a vision for multilateralism characterized by openness, development, and communication. These initiatives, he explained, reveal the philosophical foundations of a community with a shared future for humanity, moving beyond the zero-sum mentality to respond to global challenges. Katrougalos expressed his hope that both countries would seize the opportunity to promote a more inclusive, peaceful, and cooperative international order.
During the discussions, experts and scholars from both countries exchanged ideas on green development, sci-tech innovation, intercivilizational mutual learning, opening up and cooperation, and Belt and Road cooperation.
The first volume of the Greek edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China was translated and published by Foreign Languages Press (FLP) and Papazisis Publishers. To date, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China has been translated and published in 44 languages, and distributed in more than 180 countries and regions across the globe, receiving wide acclaim from readers around the world.
The event was held under the auspices of the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, CICG, and the Chinese Embassy in Greece, and was organized by FLP and Papazisis Publishers.
