Chinese community newspaper launches new section in Greek

China Greece Times, a community newspaper in the Chinese language published in Greece since 2005, has launched a Greek-language section.

“Our readers used to be Chinese who live and work in Greece but also Chinese visitors to the country,” the paper’s editor-in-chief, Lydia Liang, tells Kathimerini. “However, as our two peoples had come so much closer over the past two years and the two governments are working closer together, we decided to expand to a Greek audience.”

The new edition forms a bridge of communication for many Greeks, mainly businessmen who are interested in expanding their activities to the Asian powerhouse.

“Many Greeks want to know more about the real China by reading Chinese news firsthand,” says Liang.

“There are already businessmen who have found partners in China and expanded their activities, such as Coco-Mat with its mattresses, Vianex with pharmaceuticals and Boutaris wines,” notes journalist Giorgos Tzogopoulos, an expert on Greek-Chinese relations who is also one of the newspaper’s columnists and founder of the website chinaandgreece.com. “Language has always been an obstacle and with this initiative we are removing it.”

Tzogopoulos admits that the political uncertainty in Greece is making potential Chinese investors hesitate, but in the meantime, “they are waiting and are interested in making acquaintances in the Greek business community.”

The newspaper is 32 pages long. One part is written exclusively in Chinese and includes subjects that are of interest only to the 10,000-strong Chinese community in Greece. The Greek part will contain news from China, from the Chinese Embassy in Greece, Chinese companies in Greece and the Chinese community. The paper works with China Radio International and other media in the Asian country in order to bring in richer content.

It is available at select kiosks in downtown Athens, particularly near major tourist attractions. It can also be delivered by subscribing.