As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Piraeus port in Greece is being transformed into a significant transit hub for rapidly growing trade between Asia and Europe. CGTN reporter Su Yuting sat down with Piraeus Port Authority's CEO Fu Chengqiu for more insights on the impressive changes the port has undergone since the COSCO Shipping Corporation took over management of the site.

CGTN: “This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. What role has the Piraeus port played in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road?”

Fu Chengqiu: “During these five years, we have been successful, especially in the container business. When we took over the port, there were 685,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, and at the end of last year, it was over 4.1 million TEUs. With all that has been going on here in the past few years, Piraeus has shot up in world rankings of container ports to 36 last year from 93 at the beginning in 2010. We have been successful in the container business.”

CGTN: “How has Piraeus Port benefited the Greek economy? And how has it improved the livelihoods of the local people?”

Fu Chengqiu: “At the beginning, we found it very hard. But now, the financial results have been very good. We must enhance win-win cooperation and we will provide the locals the chance of having good jobs, and we are giving them a good salary. So they are very happy together with us.”

CGTN: “What new cooperation areas will COSCO Shipping focus on to boost maritime connectivity in the future?

Fu Chengqiu: “Our target for the cruise accommodation number in the future is 3 million. Right now, it’s one million. It’s a new business. We cooperate with locals in the tourism sector to explore the new market. And we follow the policies of the Belt and Road Initiative to develop our companies. 

(Video filmed by Videographer Chen Weikui)

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)