- 2014年05月04日

IT seems as though fate has brought Evgenios-Dimitrios Kalpyris to China. As the Consul General of Greece in Shanghai, he has lived in the city for two years, but his roots in the country go much deeper: He came to China in 1999, his wife is a Beijing native and they have three children.

The Greek Consulate General recently hosted a round table meeting for Shanghai United Media Group, the publisher of Shanghai Daily, and the European Union’s media officials. The consulate organized the meeting as the country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

“Its purpose was to offer the 20 EU member state representatives a comprehensive picture of the inner structure, developments and reorganization of the Chinese media in Shanghai,” he says. “I believe the meeting enhanced mutual understanding and demonstrated the willingness of all parties to take part in an open and friendly exchange.”

Kalpyris believes relationships between the two countries should be established on the basis of mutual understanding, otherwise it can fall apart easily.

“If the relationship is established on business, it would be like being built on sand,” says the 47-year-old. “But if the relationship is founded on understanding and trust, then it is built on something solid that is not easily broken.”

This concept features strongly in Kalpyris’ work.

First coming to China in 1999, he has worked in the country three times — twice in Beijing and now in Shanghai. He believes the two countries have much in common, which makes mutual understanding easier.

For the past two years, under his leadership, the consulate has devoted its best efforts to tapping into the huge potential of  relations between China and Greece. Apart from shipping and trade in food, minerals, high technology and machinery, tourism remains a significant focus in the relationship.

“Many Chinese people love to go to Greece,” he says. “Greece has become one of the most-loved honeymoon destinations for Chinese couples. Even the economic and politic crisis in Greece didn’t stop Chinese tourists visiting the country.”

Kalpyris, however, says Greece still has more to offer Chinese tourists all-year round, not just in the summer like most believe.

“Greece actually has the best ski site in Europe, so it can also be a winter destination,” he says. “Even many Chinese people don’t know that in northern Greece there’s a Chinese antique museum.”

Kalpyris says more “theme tourism” can be developed in Greece for Chinese tourists. For example, the country has just been found as having the safest maternity hospitals in Europe and he believes “medication tours” may appeal to Chinese mothers.

“Greece doesn’t only have the Aegean Sea and Santorini Island,” he says. “As a well-developed traditional travel destination, it still has unfamiliar vitality waiting to be discovered.”

Kalpyris has the same feeling toward China. In the past few years, he has visited almost all the provinces in the country while also learning Mandarin and Chinese calligraphy. His adventures have given him a deeper appreciation of Chinese cities.

“Take Shanghai for example. I always suggest foreigners wander in the backstreets,” he says. “Shanghai is far from just being Xintiandi or the Bund. There are also excellent museums, cultural activity and local culture waiting to be explored.”

With a PhD in international law, Kalpyris says being a diplomat has pros and cons. While he has enjoyed being stationed in other countries such as Montenegro, China, and the United States, he doesn’t have much spare time due to a busy work schedule.

He also doesn’t have time to write books like he did before. Kalpyris wrote four books on international relations between 1994 and 2000.

He also misses sailing.

“You know in Greece there are countless boats, and you can spend several days on the sea,” he says. “It’s fascinating to see the vast, clear sea and the sunshine, dolphins jumping around you. But now it’s almost impossible for me to sail here.”

Kalpyris, however, says he still loves his job and is still fascinated by China. He also knows his fate will forever be intertwined with China.

While working in Beijing, Kalpyris met Xu Li, a local woman who taught him Mandarin when he “thought he could speak very good Mandarin, but actually not.”

Now Kalpyris and Xu are married and have three children, two girls and a boy. The kids have both Chinese and Greek names. They also speak Mandarin better than Kalpyris.

China is now his second home. But no matter where his career takes him, Kalpyris knows one day he and his family will return to China.

“I wish one day we can return to Beijing as this is where our family started,” he says. “This is where we have many beautiful memories and beautiful friends.”