In the morning of June 21 local time, Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras of Greece jointly attended and addressed the launching ceremony for the new hall of the Heraklion Museum.

Li Keqiang said that civilization is the crystallization of human wisdom and cultural exchanges are important foundation of the state-to-state exchanges. Both China and Greece are countries with great civilizations, and the two countries share many similarities in the perception of civilization, and in loving, cherishing and maintaining peace in particular. Meanwhile, Eastern and Western civilizations possess different characteristics, which reflect the colorfulness of human civilizations and the cultural diversity.

Li Keqiang pointed out that during my visit to Greece, China and Greece issued a joint statement and signed many documents of cooperation, including the agreement on the mutual establishment of the cultural centers, which provides broader space for bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such fields as politics, economy and trade, and culture. Enhancing mutual learning between civilizations and cultural exchanges between China and Greece is conducive to promoting all-round cooperation between the two countries. China is willing to make unremitting efforts with Greece in tapping great potential of cooperation, so as to ensure a more brilliant China-Greece cooperation in Europe and the world at large.

Samaras said that both Greece and China are rooted in rich civilizations, and ancient civilizations have closely linked the two countries together and built the bridge of exchanges and cooperation between the East and the West. Greece is always a friend of Chinese people. Premier Li Keqiang’s visit has achieved fruitful results. Greece-China cooperation is crucial to the development of Greece. Greece looks forward to working with China to expand the road of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between the two countries, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Prior to the launching ceremony, Chinese Premier and Greek Prime Minister jointly visited the exhibits in the Museum. Premier Li Keqiang’s wife Mme. Cheng Hong and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s wife Georgina Samaras were present at the event.

The Island of Crete is an important cradle of the ancient Greek civilization. Located on the Island, the Heraklion Museum has a history of more than 100 years up to now. The cultural relics exhibited in the Museum represent the over 7000 years’ history of the civilization. The Museum is now completely re-opened to the public after 7-odd-year renovation.