The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Greece, Mr. Xiao Junzheng, accompanied by the Educational Attaché, Mr. Tian Lei, and the Deputy Head of the Policy and Media Department of the Embassy, visited the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

The Rector, Professor Dimopoulos, informed the Ambassador that the NKUA has been cooperating closely with Chinese Universities on many levels. Mr. Dimopoulos then referred to both the international undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by the NKUA. The two sides also focused on the ever-increasing interest of Greek and foreign students in learning Chinese at the Foreign Language Teaching Center, highlighting that, in the last eight years, more than 600 students have been enrolled in various Chinese language levels.

The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Student Welfare, Professor D. Karadimas, referred to the initiative of Greece and China for the creation of the Center for Ancient Greek and Chinese Culture, where the NKUA played a central role. The new Center aims at the study and research of ancient Greek and ancient Chinese culture, and the promotion of actions of scientific, educational or research interest at local, national, European or international level through the development of diverse collaborations. The Center was created by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in collaboration with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Patras and the University of Crete. Special reference was made to the foreign language undergraduate programs “BA Program in the Archeology, History and Literature of Ancient Greece” and “Medical Degree”, as well as to the international Masters offered in Greece.

Bilateral cooperation agreements with 17 Chinese Universities are currently active at the University of Athens in the framework of its international relations.

The Ambassador expressed his satisfaction with this enriching visit to the oldest university of Greece and one of the most recognized international universities in China. He expressed the Chinese Government’s commitment to further deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries in the fields of research and education, as well as its support for all actions and initiatives that have already been launched.