Ionian Islands Regional Governor in China
BEIJING. He attended the Beijing Language and Culture University World Cultural Festival.
(Ionian Islands Regional Authority) Ionian Islands Regional Governor, Yiannis Trepeklis, delivered an official address at the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) World Cultural Festival, where he was present as part of his visit to China leading the Ionian Islands Region delegation in its participation in the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM 2025) in Beijing.
The Beijing Language and Culture University already maintains an academic-level collaboration with the Ionian University, with the Dean of the Ionian University, Professor Andreas Floros, having invited the Governor of the Ionian Islands to the Festival as a tangible expression of the close cooperation and the support that the Ionian Islands Regional Authority offers to the Ionian University in its efforts to strengthen its international partnerships and outreach.
It is widely recognised that through the initiatives of the Ionian University, the Ionian Islands Region is also promoted as a safe and high-quality tourist destination, with a strong historical and cultural heritage.
The BLCU Cultural Festival is an annual international event that gathers students from over 100 countries, showcasing cultural diversity through performances, exhibitions and activities that promote the cultural heritage of nations.
In his address, Mr. Trepeklis stressed the deep appreciation of the Ionian Islands Region towards the Chinese people and their culture, highlighting the historical and cultural affinity between two ancient civilisations — Greece and China.
"It is a great honour and pleasure for me to be here today, at the heart of a country with a long history, rich culture and a timeless respect for education and knowledge," the Governor stated, praising the establishment of the Hellenic Centre for Sinology at the Ionian University and stressing that such initiatives strengthen academic and cultural bridges between the two peoples:
"The establishment of the Hellenic Centre for Sinology at the Ionian University — the first such centre not only in Greece but across the entire European Union — marks a new chapter in the relations between our two countries."
The Governor also referred to the strategic importance of the Ionian Islands as an international hub of culture and cooperation, underlining the Region’s firm commitment to enhancing its international relations through education, culture, tourism and the economy.
In closing, he stressed that the friendship between Greece and China is founded on mutual appreciation and shared respect for history and knowledge, expressing his certainty that this collaboration will continue to flourish in the future.
"When we invest in knowledge and culture, distances disappear and hearts come closer together. I sincerely thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome. The Ionian Islands Region and the Ionian University will always be open partners and steadfast friends of China," Mr. Trepeklis concluded.
The event was also attended by Ioanna Kakalidi, First Secretary of the Embassy of Greece in Beijing.
Photo: Ionian Islands Regional Authority
