China–Greece relations

People's Republic of China has an embassy in Athens. The Hellenic Republic has an embassy in Beijing and three general consulates in Guangzhou, Hong-Kong and since 2005 in Shanghai. The Port of Piraeus (under Chinese management since 2009 and majority Chinese ownership since 2016) is important from a geostrategic view for China, as it helps China's transactions with the whole of Europe. Thousands of Chinese people are living in Greece in the Overseas Chinese context and approximately 1000 Greek citizens are living in China. Modern diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1972. Today, Greece and China enjoy a very good relationship based on a solid foundation, which continues to be growing steadily.

In the early years of the Cold War, Greece, like most other Western European countries, recognized the Chinese Nationalist Government of Chiang Kai-shek as being the legitimate governing authority of China, despite Chiang only controlling a rump state on Taiwan. In June 1972, in the aftermath of Richard Nixon's visit to Beijing and the People's Republic of China's admission to the United Nations, Greece switched recognition to the People's Republic, cutting off relations with Taiwan. Today, Taiwan maintains a "Taipei Representative Office in Athens", which is active in organizing various events and making statements to the Greek media; however, Greece strictly adheres to a One China policy, and Taiwanese officials in Athens do not enjoy diplomatic or consular status.

The key period in the strengthening of bilateral relations came in the 1980s, when Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou sought allies beyond Europe and the US in his policy of confronting Turkey over the Cyprus and Aegean disputes, and in this context courted China under Deng Xiaoping. Greek shipowners also played an important role, by ordering many of their ships to be built in Chinese shipyards beginning in the 1980s, instead of British, German and Japanese shipyards (as had been the case since the late 19th century).