China will be the Guest of honour Country at the 82nd Thessaloniki International Fair, Greece’s largest trade show that traditionally takes place at the beginning of September at the HELEXPO premises in Thessaloniki. Aim of this decision is to highlight the existing cooperation between Greece and the Peoples’ Republic of China as well as promote and strengthen the bilateral economic, political and cultural ties.

China’s nomination as Guest of honour Country at the upcoming trade fair of Thessaloniki constitutes an integral part of the celebration of 2017 as ‘Year of Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation between Greece and China’. In this framework, a series of communication and cultural events is being scheduled for the week-long trade show with a number of authorities from both countries being involved in their planning and implementation.

A message of cooperation was sent during the opening ceremony for the Chinese New Year celebrations at the South Gate of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, which marked the beginning of a number of events expected to culminate in September 2017.

Thessaloniki was in the past and can become again a significant trading post on the “Silk Road”, stressed Helexpo President Mr Tassos Tzikas, while PRC ambassador Mr Zou Xiaoli called attention to the importance of TIF as a gateway and a major distribution hub for the Chinese products into  Europe.