The Hellenic Republic and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations on June 5, 1972. Following the official establishment of diplomatic relations, Greece set up an Embassy in Beijing and maintains General Consulates in Shanghai (1999), in Guangzhou (2006) and Hong Kong (1966). Greece honours the policy of “One China”.
In 2006, the two countries agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with a view to developing a steadily evolving, multi-level and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The successful organization of Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and, for the first time, in Beijing in 2008, created the opportunity for an exchange of visits and know-how, contributing to the closer cooperating between the two countries.
The sea has always been a feature linking the two countries. Thus, 2015 was declared "Year of Greece-China Maritime Cooperation", which contributed to further rapprochement and mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of shipping, trade and tourism.
In addition, during Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s official visit to China in July 2016, the high level of bilateral cooperation and the strong mutual will for its further strengthening was reconfirmed and a Joint Declaration on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Hellenic Republic and People's Republic of China was adopted.
In the framework of cooperation between European and Asian countries, Greece, as an EU member state and China are both participating in ASEM, the informal setting of Europe-Asia Dialogue.