Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias (R) receives an exclusive interview with Xinhuanet in Beijing, Aug. 27, 2018. (Xinhuanet/Guo Xiaotian)

BEIJING, Aug.?31 (Xinhuanet) -- The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) indicates China's ability and willingness to contribute to a better world, said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias during a recent exclusive interview with Xinhuanet.

Kotzias is on a visit to China from Sunday to Thursday.

He recalled his attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in 2017.

He said the Initiative has contributed to the improvement of the living conditions of millions of people, as well as to the connectivity of countries along the routes through modern infrastructures.

Regarding China-Greece cooperation, Kotzias believed that much more still needs to be done apart from the strong steps already taken.

Greece is the gateway for Chinese trade with Europe, as China's COSCO Shipping Corporation has acquired the big landmark Piraeus port and transfers via this port products to Europe, he noted.

Apart from infrastructure, he mentioned that Greece also wants to enhance cooperation with China in the fields of new technologies, culture, education, research and young people exchanges.

He highlighted the annual Ancient Civilizations Forum, a Greek initiative with China as a co-organizer, with the 3rd forum to be held in China next year.

As to the meaning of the forum, Kotzias explained that the early civilizations across the world are still vivid nowadays after thousands of years and can contribute to solving major problems today.

He stressed that the forum corresponds to the spirit of China's Belt and Road Initiative, as China has been "a great country and a great civilization that can combine its past with the future, that is to combine the great experiences of the Silk Road with the era of globalization".