
Agenda
Thursday, 15 February 2024
10.00-10.30
Meet & greet - Registrations
Participation is by invitation and registration only. Persons not invited or registered to the Forum, will not be granted access to the venue
10.30-11.00
Welcome remarks
Mr. Giannis Balakakis
Chair Executive Committee, Balkans & Black Sea Forum
Ambassador Xiao Junzheng
Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China
Mr. Nikos Papathanasis
Alternate Minister of Economy & Finance, Hellenic Republic
11.00-12.30
Chapter 1: Geopolitics, Regional Cooperation and Port hubs in the Mediterranean
In focus: The impact of recent Middle East conflicts on navigation, ports, and trade; regional cooperation and China-CEEC Cooperation; development of the Piraeus Port as a green hub of technology; development of Northern Greece’s ports; China-Greece cooperation in shipping
Mr. Olivér Várhelyi
Commissioner for Neighborhood & Enlargement, European Commission
video message
Mr. ΥU Zenggang
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Piraeus Port Authority SA
Ms. Xiaoxi ΧΙΑ
Counsellor, Secretariat of Cooperation Between China & CEEC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China
Dr. Angelos Vlachos
BoD Member at Hellenic Ports Association & CEO Port of Kavala SA
Ambassador (a.h.) Dimitrios Rallis
Deputy Secretary General, BSEC PERMIS
12.30-13.00
Coffee break
13.00-14.30
Chapter 2: New order and trends in regional connectivity
In focus: Current connectivity status & logistic hubs in the Southeast Mediterranean & Black Sea regions; the Belt and Road Initiative: review & prospects; synergies between the BRI and EU’s Global Gateway plan
Mr. François Davenne
Director General, International Union of Railways
Dr. Young Tae Kim
Secretary-General, International Transport Forum-OECD
Dr. Ilias Lekkos
Group Chief Economist & Head of Investment Strategy, Piraeus Bank
Dr. Jisheng SUN
Vice President, China Foreign Affairs University
Dr. Renwei HUANG
Executive Director-General, Fudan Institute for Belt & Road and Global Governance
Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliyev
Chairman, Foreign Policy Research Institute, MFA of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Middle Corridor - new opportunities for Europe and Asia
Mr. Hendrik Bosshammer
Project Manager SEE, Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)
14.30-14.45
14.45-15.45
Networking cocktail reception
15.45-17.00
Onsite visit at the Piraeus Port Authority premises
Please refer to the menu bar: Practical Info - Side Events
17.00
End of the conference
Nota Bene
- Official language is English and participation is by invitation and registration only
- Topics are indicative and Chapters may be reordered