In 2008, the overall strategic partnership keeps deepening, and the economic and trade cooperation has entered a new period of historical opportunities. The bilateral cooperation on trade, tourism, ocean shipping, etc. has achieved rapid development.

In the first quarter, the total amount of Sino-Greek bilateral trade reached to USD 1.039 billion, up 66％ compared with that in the same period of last year. Among which, the imports from China to Greece was USD 43 million and exports was USD 996 million, up 45.6% and 67.6% respectively.

At present, China has become the seventh among the top ten trading partner countries of Greece, but the bilateral trade accounts for a very small proportion in both countries’ foreign trade. In the first quarter, the Sino-Greek bilateral trade only occupied 0.2％ and 2.6％ respectively in China-Greece foreign trade. Among which, exports from China to Greece accounted for 0.3％ of China’s total exports and 4.0％ of Greece’s total imports, while imports from Greece to China accounted for 0.02％ of China’s total imports and 0.3％ of Greece’ total exports.

At present, about 30% of Greek ships are ordered and manufactured in China. Up to the end of March 2008, the Greek ship owners had ordered a total of 415 ships in China, with the total tonnage of 16.9 million tons and 30.23 million DWT. Therefore, the two sides have a solid foundation and broad prospects for cooperation on ocean shipping.