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ATHENS, May 21-- Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos has congratulated China on the successful holding of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on May 14-15. In a televised message recorded on Saturday at the presidential mansion in Athens, Pavlopoulos extended wishes for success of the Belt and Road Initiative in future. "The exceptionally successful organization of the Belt and Road forum in Beijing showed the great significance of the initiative, proposed by our friend Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the international economic cooperation and development," Pavlopoulos said in the message released to Xinhua. The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was brought up by Xi in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. "The representation of states at the highest level from across the globe underlines the international acceptance of this ambitious plan, which, through trade and investments, aims to bring Asia closer to Europe, the American continent and Africa," the Greek leader noted in the message. In the context, the success of China's Belt and Road Initiative is certain, and will contribute to the promotion of peaceful coexistence among peoples and subsequently to the consolidation of peace worldwide, Pavlopoulos said. | 
