As part of the Athens Security Forum 2024, the Institute of International Relations (IDIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Great Britain China Centre (GBCC), laying the groundwork for a new era of cooperation. This initiative aims to further strengthen Chinese studies in Greece and promote academic and research collaboration across national borders.
In his speech, Cyril Poulopoulos, Deputy Director of the GBCC, emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of contemporary China, its complexities, and the challenges accompanying research on the country. He highlighted Beijing’s growing influence in the international system and the varying approaches of states and international actors to China’s rise. He also stressed the importance of understanding the nature of Chinese power and the changes it brings to the global system, while maintaining a critical and analytical perspective in the study of China. Finally, he discussed the significance of stability in China’s immediate region and how Beijing will manage it in the near future.
Professor Kostas Ifantis, Director of IDIS, warmly welcomed this new collaboration, underlining the importance of expanding the Institute’s network. He also pointed out the shared goal of promoting the understanding of modern China, disseminating knowledge, and contributing to the discourse on China both in Greece and beyond national borders
The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC), established in 1974 by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, is an executive non-departmental public body with a mission to support UK-China relations.
This collaboration marks a new chapter in academic and research partnerships, enriching the dialogue on China’s role in the modern international system.
