Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L, front) and his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras meet with workers at the No. 3 pier during an inspection tour to the Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) near Athens, capital of Greece, June 20, 2014.[Photo/Xinhua]

ATHENS - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang applauded on Friday the success of the Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) project jointly operated by China and Greece, calling it a "pearl" in bilateral cooperation.

Li made the remarks while inspecting the project with his Greek counterpart, Antonis Samaras. China's state-owned shipping giant COSCO gained the management lease for No. 2 and No. 3 piers of the Piraeus port, the largest one in Greece, in 2008.

China and Greece have achieved mutual benefits and win-win results in cooperation on the PCT, Li said, detailing that the project has added thousands of jobs to the southern European country, and that its management is as good as that of any advanced port in the world.

China-Greece cooperation boasted not only vitality but also immeasurable prospects, Li added.

Li pledged to make Piraeus one of the world's most competitive ports by cooperating with Greece in such industries as ship repairing and equipment, and actively participating in reconstructing the rail linking the port to inland Europe.

China-Greece cooperation on PCT is conducive to not only the two countries, but also stability, prosperity and balanced development of Europe and the world as a whole, he said.

The Chinese premier vowed that his country is ready to work with Greece on the PCT project, making the "pearl" in their cooperation brighter and shinier.

Samaras, calling the project a paradigm in Greece-China practical cooperation, said Chinese investment not only created jobs and increased incomes for the Greek people, but also boosted Greece's economy and promoted its position in the Europe and the world.

Greece, with its geographical and shipping advantages, is willing to contribute to cooperation between Europe and Asia.

Premier Li arrived here Thursday for an official visit, his first trip to Greece since taking office in 2013.