Chinese businesses and expatriates in Greece provided precious assistance to local authorities to deal with the unprecedented influx of refugees and migrants reaching the country in recent months, officials from the Chinese Embassy to Greece said on Monday.
From the start of 2015, a record number of refugees and migrants have entered Greece fleeing war-torn regions such as Syria.
In particular, during the summer season, Greece came under tremendous pressure to respond to the waves of people in need, but the overstretched mechanism in the debt-laden country could not respond effectively without international help.
In a new demonstration of solidarity with Greece and the refugees and migrants, Chinese companies in the country and Chinese citizens living in Greece extended their help.
Last week, Chinese businessmen in the northern Greece port city of Thessaloniki donated 3,000 shirts, 500 pairs of shoes, and food to the UNHCR through its office in Greece, Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli announced during a press briefing in Athens on Monday.
In addition, nine associations of overseas Chinese in Athens decided to donate supplies and money totaling up to 160,000 euros (180,176 U.S. dollars) to help Greece settle the refugees, the ambassador said.
Finally, Chinese companies, including the Piraeus Container Terminal of Cosco, ZTE Hellas, and Huawei Technologies, also said they would donate 65 telephone devices, ten Videophones, three Telephone Center VOIP Gateways, one Fingerprint Scanner, 150 sets of bedding, and 1,000 personal hygiene kits to local authorities.
"Their fast mobilization reflects the spirit of international humanitarianism and the strong relationship between our two countries," Zou stressed.
"The Chinese government, people, and overseas Chinese in Greece will never forget the valuable support we got from the Greek side during our times of difficulties," he added.
It is not the first time Chinese community in Greece has offered aid to Greek authorities and citizens to tackle challenges.
They systematically made donations after devastating wildfires in recent years as well as to shelters and municipal centers that helped Greeks suffering from the five-year-long debt crisis.
Greek officials and citizens for their part helped the Chinese government and people during the evacuation of thousands of Chinese nationals from war-torn Libya in recent years.
"Greece is an important bridge in the economic and cultural exchanges between China and Europe. The stability and prosperity of Greece is of great significance for China, China-EU relations as well as peace and development in the region," the ambassador concluded.
