Building Bridges Between Greece and China Through Maritime Education

Over the past two weeks, it has been my privilege to organise and direct the 2026 Summer Course Programme between the Athens University of Economics and Business – Οικονομικό Παν. ΑθηνώνUEB) – MSc in International Shipping Finance & Management, AUEB and Shanghai Maritime University (SMU).

We welcomed 41 undergraduate students and their professor from SMU for an intensive programme combining academic learning, industry engagement and cultural exchange.

The programme featured lectures by AUEB faculty and industry executives on shipping economics, maritime business, shipping finance, chartering, commodity trading, marine insurance, ESG, decarbonisation and digital transformation.

Students also visited leading maritime organisations, including Lloyds Register-Hellenic Lloyds S.A., Tsakos Shipping & Trading, V.ships, Piraeus Port Authority – OLP, and other maritime institutions, gaining first-hand exposure to one of the world’s leading shipping clusters. Cultural visits to the Acropolis Museum – Μουσείο Ακρόπολης, Acropolis and Ancient Agora complemented the academic experience.

This Summer School represents another milestone in the long-standing collaboration between AUEB and SMU, a partnership I have been privileged to support over the past 15 years as a Visiting Professor at SMU.

As two of the world’s oldest civilizations, Greece and China have long contributed to global commerce, navigation and culture. Today, shipping and higher education continue to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.

I was particularly honoured that Professor Vassilis Vasdekis, Rector of AUEB, together with Mr Gang Zhang, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, awarded the Κέντρο Επιμόρφωσης και Διά Βίου Μάθησης ΟΠΑ certificates during the graduation ceremony, in the presence of Associate Professor Athanasios Sakkas, Director of KEDIVIM. We were also pleased by the attendance and support of Mr Tongxu Zhang, Secretary for Transport, and Counsellor Li from the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Office.

The programme also reflects AUEB’s broader commitment to academic and cultural cooperation with China, complemented by the activities of the Confucius Institute hosted at the University.

My sincere thanks to AUEB, SMU, KEDIVIM, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Greece, our lecturers, guest speakers, and all the companies and organizations that welcomed our students. Above all, thank you to our students for their enthusiasm and commitment.

I hope they return home with new knowledge, lasting friendships, and an even stronger connection to Greece and its maritime tradition.