To promote the interconnection of infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative, Guangzhou Port in China and Piraeus Port in Greece reached an agreement to boost cooperation.

"We often think of Greek places of interest and of local snacks," said Su Xuewen and Xiao Xuefeng, who are bridge crane drivers at Nansha Port of Guangzhou Port. In 2010, they went to Greece to train dock workers in Piraeus Port.

Located about 10 kilometers southwest of Athens, Piraeus Port has always been regarded as the "Southern Gate of Europe" and the "Gateway to Central and Eastern Europe" in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. In 2008, China Ocean Shipping Group acquired the management rights of two container terminals at Piraeus Port for 35 years and has actively participated in the construction of the Greek port.

At the end of 2010, a number of new quay cranes were introduced during the construction of the port of Piraeus. Su and Xiao were then sent there to help train the local workers to use the equipment. 

Xiao Xufeng poses for a photo while working at Piraeus Port. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily] 

During the two-month training, they displayed excellent equipment operation skills, exemplary experience, and fluency in a foreign language, which were recognized by their Greek counterparts. With their guidance, crane drivers at Piraeus Port learned to operate the double-box crane, greatly increasing their working efficiency.

The two Guangzhou technicians have also many insights from this valuable experience, such as the practices of Piraeus Port in terms of environmental protection and operational compliance.

Su Xuewen poses for a photo at Piraeus Port. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

In 2018, the two ports agreed to be sister ports and more cooperation programs will be carried out in various fields between them in the future.

In recent years, echoing the Belt and Road Initiative, Guangzhou Port has established friendly and cooperative relations with ports from more than 10 Belt and Road countries such as India and Russia, with routes to Belt and Road countries reaching more than 70.

Guangzhou Port (above) and Piraeus Port (below). [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]