Chinese leader’s book ‘opens window to understanding’
Chinese and Greek officials underlined the prospects for greater cooperation and understanding between the two nations at the launch in Athens of an English translation of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book on Chinese governance.
“The Governance of China,” which has been translated into more than a dozen languages and has sold 5.5 million copies worldwide, offers “a significant window for the understanding of modern China,” according to Wu Shangzhi, Chinese vice minister of state administration of press, publication, radio, film and television.
“Readers will gain a better understanding of governance and reform, of the measures China took to achieve growth. They will understand what the Chinese think of international relations,” Wu told the launch. A Greek edition of the book, which is published by Foreign Languages Press, is not yet in the cards.
Greek Culture Minister Aristides Baltas underlined the importance of books as “an important vehicle for improving mutual understanding” between the two nations. He praised China as “a major power which is moving energetically to the fore in Greece for mutual benefit,” an apparent reference to the expanding presence of Chinese shipping giant Cosco at the port of Piraeus.
Chinese Ambassador Zou Xiaoli drew parallels between reform efforts in Greece and China, noting that an exchange of ideas would help both countries. Apart from trade and shipping, there is fertile ground for bilateral cooperation in tourism, culture and other areas, he said.
The prospects for closer cooperation in education was underlined by Ioannis Konstantaropoulos, president of the association of Greek publishers and book sellers, who said Chinese language and mythology should be taught in Greek schools.
The release of Xi’s book in Greece follows the launch of a Greek-language Chinese newspaper China Greece Times.
