The Governor of the Ionian Islands participated in the World Chinese Language Conference 2025 (WCLC 2025), which was held in Beijing from November 14 to 16, at the invitation of the government of the People's Republic of China, through the Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng.
During the conference, Yannis Trepeklis signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Education of China, officially opening a new chapter in the academic and cultural relations between the two sides . The agreement provides for expanding synergies, the dissemination of the Chinese language and the strengthening of relations between university communities.
This development is a continuation of the previous visit of the Regional Governor to China a few months ago, when he was at the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), met with the General Director of the Center, Yu Yunfeng , and the foundations of a channel of communication with Beijing were laid , which is now being established at an institutional level with the seal of the Chinese state. The Chinese side then confirmed its interest in the Ionian Islands, while today it is formalizing the cooperation by recognizing the dynamics, historical identity and strategic position of the Region.
On the sidelines of the Conference, G. Trepeclis had private meetings with the First Vice Premier of the Chinese Government, Ding Xuexiang, as well as with the leadership of the Ministry of Education, Minister Huai Jinpeng and Deputy Minister Ren Youqun, meetings that, in terms of international political etiquette, are only attributed to high-ranking official guests . The reception that the Chinese authorities extended to the Regional Governor demonstrated their intention to invest in a substantial relationship with the Ionian Islands Region and to honor Greece and its culture in his person. The Regional Governor also participated in the parallel forum "Intercultural Exchanges and Talent Cultivation in Chinese Studies", where he analyzed the role of the Ionian Islands as a natural and cultural hub between East and West, highlighting the centuries-old Greek cultural heritage and the dynamism of the Ionian University . He emphasized that the Region actively supports the Foundation's collaborations with Chinese universities, seeking to create stable structures for the exchange of knowledge, research and culture.
In his statement, Mr. Trepeklis pointed out that the Ionian Islands have the second largest Museum of Asian Art in Europe, a cultural pillar that constitutes a natural basis for deepening Greek-Chinese relations. He referred to the ever-increasing flow of Chinese visitors to the Ionian Islands, expressing the intention to enhance the Region's visibility in the huge Chinese market.
"The Ionian Islands are the islands of Odysseus, a Homeric symbol that the Chinese love and study. With the Cooperation Protocol, an institutional channel is now opened that connects education, culture and mutual understanding. The honor that the Chinese authorities have reserved for us is deep and substantial," said the Regional Governor.
The World Chinese Language Conference 2025, which attracted approximately 5,000 participants from more than 160 countries, was a pivotal event of global scope . The letter from the President of China, Xi Jinping , to the young sinologists of the Conference, in which he invited them to act as “messengers of civilizations”, captured the high level of the international dialogue that developed and strengthened the framework within which the presence of the Ionian Islands Region is now placed.
The visit to Beijing marks the entry of the Ionian Islands Region into a new era of strategic cooperation with China. Using academic diplomacy, the interconnection of culture and education, and methodical penetration into one of the largest markets in the world , the Region is investing in a development network that will bring significant and long-term benefits to our islands and is a fundamental factor in creating a favorable framework for the development of entrepreneurship and tourism.
