STORY: Greece, China celebrate Dragon Boat Festival at Piraeus port
DATELINE: June 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:00:56
LOCATION: Athens
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Dragon Boat Festival celebration at Piraeus port
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): YIANNIS MORALIS, Piraeus mayor
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): PANTELIS DIOLETIS, Deputy mayor of Salamina municipality
4. various of performances and banquet

STORYLINE:

Greek and Chinese participants jointly celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival in Piraeus, Greece's largest port, on Wednesday evening, exchanging good wishes for health and prosperity, and expressing their willingness to forge stronger bilateral ties for the benefit of both countries.
   
The event was jointly organized by COSCO Shipping Piraeus Port Authority, China Public Diplomacy Association, the Chinese Embassy in Greece, and the Athens Business Confucius Institute.
   
The event, which was hosted at the premises of Piraeus Port Authority S.A. (PPA S.A.), saw Greek and Chinese participants singing popular songs together and students of the Athens Business Confucius Institute reciting classic poems of the two countries. The attendees were offered Zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves, along with Greek desserts.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): YIANNIS MORALIS, Piraeus mayor
"We have come closer by getting better acquainted with each other's culture, history and traditions."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): PANTELIS DIOLETIS, Deputy mayor of Salamina municipality
"Greek and Chinese cultures have many common elements, which helps to bring the two nations closer together."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Athens.
(XHTV)