The Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias, and the Secretary General of the Provincial Government of Jiangsu, Xin Changxing, expressed their strong desire to strengthen the self-governing ties between the Metropolitan Region of Attica and the Provincial Government of Jiangsu during the Regional Governor's three-day visit to the People's Republic of China.During the visit, the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and tourism.
Mr. Hardalias visited the capital of Jiangsu, Nanjing, at the invitation of the local government, emphasizing the importance of expanding the network of local government cooperation between Attica and the major economic centers of China's East Coast.
«We want to build relationships that will be long-lasting and, above all, consistent,» emphasized Mr. Hardalias, announcing that a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Region of Attica and the Province of Zhiangsu will be signed in Athens at the end of June in the areas of investment and entrepreneurship, green transition and renewable energy sources, shipping and port management, tourism, as well as cultural, educational, and scientific exchanges.
In fact, the Attica-Jiangsu Memorandum of Cooperation follows on from the corresponding multi-level Strategic Cooperation Framework that was already signed between the Region of Attica and the province of Shanghai at the end of January, during the official visit to Athens of the head of the local municipal government, Gong Zheng.
«Our two peoples have been historically and culturally linked for centuries,» noted Mr. Hardalias, adding: «We are laying the foundations for a broader network of cooperation between Attica – the capital region of our country – and the most powerful economic and commercial centers in China. We are well aware that cooperation is judged by its results. And that is precisely the core of our policy: to speak with projects that leave a meaningful mark on the lives of citizens.» The Regional Governor also informed Mr. Xin Changxing about the International Culture Festival planned by the regional authority, a «new institution with cultural activities 365 days a year,» as he pointed out, starting in September 2026. In fact, he reiterated that China is expected to be the honored country for the first year.
For his part, Mr. Xin Changxing placed particular emphasis on the cooperation that can be developed primarily in the business sector and maritime transport, in sustainable energy transition policies, in culture and tourism, while showing particular interest in the program for hosting students from Greek-speaking educational institutions abroad, launched by the Region of Attica on the initiative of Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias.
As stated by the Secretary General of the Jiangsu Provincial Government: «Our province ranks second in per capita income in China. Jiangsu has a population of 85.26 million and covers an area of 107,000 square meters. Our province consists of 13 counties and has 170 universities. The Cooperation Agreement that we will sign with the Region of Attica in June will be a very good starting point for our relations. We have established cooperation with 367 cities from 68 countries worldwide. We are particularly pleased because we are now inaugurating our cooperation with Metropolitan Attica, one of the most historic regions in the world.
The Regional Governor also met with Fang Wei, Deputy Governor of Jiangsu. The meetings were attended by Special Secretary Elena Rapti, General Director of Nea Mitropolitiki S.A. Efi Filiopoulou, Director of the Attica Regional Planning Agency Sotiris Nikolaropoulos, and Deputy Director of the Regional Governor's Office Dimitris Tarazonas. Representing the local government of Jiangsu were Special Secretary Chu Yonghong, Deputy Secretary-General Yin Weidong, General Director Xu Guanghui, and other high-ranking officials.
Focus on the environment, research, and innovation
As part of his official visit, Mr. Hardalias visited the facilities of the Jiangbei Waste-to-Energy Plant in Nanjing to learn from the management about the innovative program for producing energy from the incineration and gasification of household waste. This is an internationally recognized best practice that has been successfully implemented in modern European cities such as Paris, London, and Berlin.
The plant processes approximately 2,000 tons of waste per day, on a 660-acre site, in a single structure with three blast furnaces, in facilities that are completely environmentally friendly. In addition to energy production, the plant recycles inert materials and plastic, biologically purifies water for irrigation, and organizes a number of corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The Regional Governor of Attica congratulated the scientific and technical staff of the unit and expressed his intention to establish close cooperation between the two Regions for the exchange of good practices and know-how. «The main concern of local authorities around the world is to improve people's lives at all levels. The major issue of waste management, as I have said before, requires a metropolitan approach. It is unthinkable that we should continue to bury our waste when technology enables us to produce energy and recycled goods. The successful implementation of this model in one of the most populous regions on the planet, as well as in large European cities, shows the way forward for the capital region of Greece.
Mr. Hardalias then visited the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute, one of China's most iconic institutions, founded in 2013 and collaborating with 80 research centers and large multinational companies around the world, as well as 120 Chinese and 90 foreign universities.
The Regional Governor presented Attica's prospects of becoming a hub of technology and innovation in Southeast Europe, emphasizing the desire for broad synergies, including through the Foundation for Technology and Research, which, as he noted, will be reflected in the Attica-Jiangsu Memorandum of Cooperation to be signed in June.
Mr. Hardalias also visited the Nanjing Archaeological Museum, where he was given a tour by the Director and members of the scientific staff. The museum officials informed the Regional Governor that a few months ago, the museum had hosted an exhibition of ancient Greek art, which was visited by tens of thousands of visitors from the province of Jiangsu, as well as from all over China.
Finally, the Regional Governor of Attica gave an interview to the Jiangsu Public Broadcasting Corporation (JSBC) and journalist Yuanyuan Qiu, during which he spoke at length about the mutual benefits for both regions from their cooperation. Among other things, the Regional Governor stressed the need to strengthen environmental cooperation in addressing the critical issue of the consequences of the climate crisis. He stated: «What we need is to share our best practices, how to adopt a management model that will bring tangible results. Because environmental issues are at the core of our citizens» daily lives.".
