Athens now benefits from more direct flights to Beijing, underpinning the objective of fostering lasting cooperation between the two nations. Today, Greek citizens can travel to China without a visa, creating ease and accessibility for travelers.
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00:00Kostas Mathiopoulos knows this airport line all too well, having traveled to China countless times over years.
00:08But this time, the wait feels different, less frustrating.
00:13I've been traveling to China every year since 1996.
00:17I have to say, this is the first time it's been this easy.
00:20No paperwork for the visa, and no need to spend money on one.
00:24As a Kung Fu instructor, Kostas visits China once a year for training and seminars.
00:30But with the new visa rules, he's planning to do it more often.
00:38Even though the visa is only for two weeks at a time, it still allows me to travel more often throughout the year, not just once.
00:45This way, I can maintain a closer connection with my sensei, and bring more value to my students back in Greece.
00:54Greece, along with Cyprus, Portugal, and Slovenia, are the latest batch of countries to be granted visa-free travel to China for a two-week period.
01:04The newly introduced pilot program is set to run through December 2025.
01:09While direct flights from Athens to Beijing and Shanghai have made the journey more accessible, the visa-free policy further simplifies travel.
01:19It's thought this will boost tourism and foster deeper business and cultural links.
01:25Our priority has been to strengthen ties with the People's Republic of China within a strategic framework.
01:32I believe Sino-Greek relations are currently at their best.
01:35However, local government relations, particularly between regions and Chinese provinces, have seen some stagnation.
01:42The key issue was the lack of a broad strategic plan, which limited long-term prospects.
01:48This new initiative offers an opportunity to enhance relations, not just between governments, but between people, cultures, and businesses.
01:57In 2024, flights between Greece and China have picked up, with Air China bumping up its Athens-Beijing route to five flights a week and increasing seat capacity by 128%.
02:12For travelers like Costas, the new visa-free policy will make a big difference.
02:17He's already planning to make more trips to ensure he keeps up on the latest martial arts techniques.
02:24Evangelos Tsitsas for CGTN, Athens.