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ATHENS, April 23-- Greece's interests, as the country is building a new economic model in the post-bailout era, are in full alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative, Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Katrougalos told Xinhua on Tuesday. "We want to base the new economic model of our country to the comparative advantage that Greece has to be a kind of bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe," Katrougalos said. The top diplomat made his remarks during an exclusive interview at his office in central Athens shortly before travelling to Beijing to participate in the upcoming second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation later this week, accompanying Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Katrougalos explained the reason he chose China to be among the first countries he visited as Greek Foreign Minister in March this year, is that the two countries enjoy probably the best ever level of bilateral relations and a full alignment of their economic interests. For the upcoming visit, "I am going to discuss with my Chinese counterparts what Greece can do in order to promote the interests of both countries in this kind of mutually beneficial cooperation of ours," he said. In recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between Greece and China has been deepened and expanded in many areas. Greece values friendship with China, the Greek minister said. There is mutual respect between the two countries representing ancient civilizations and very important economic synergies developed especially around the port of Piraeus where China's COSCO Shipping has invested in the past decade, posting impressive results. | 
