【“我们的中国故事”希腊篇】奥伊科诺穆：在需要的时候互相帮助

对于希腊前警察总长伊莱夫塞里奥斯·伊科诺穆（Eleftherios Oikonomou）而言，没有什么比2011年利比亚危机期间中国公民大规模撤离行动，更能体现中国与希腊之间深厚的友谊。

当时担任希腊警察总长的伊科诺穆，在协调中国公民安全抵达希腊并临时安置的过程中发挥了关键作用。

十多年后，回顾这场行动，他依然将其视为中希友谊的生动写照。在他看来，这份友谊不仅体现在两国政府层面的合作中，也通过日益密切的民间交往延续至今。

希腊前警察总长伊莱夫塞里奥斯·伊科诺穆（Eleftherios Oikonomou）接受人民网采访。（摄影：Patrick Shead-Simmonds）

2011年利比亚危机最严峻之际，伊科诺穆受命负责协调中国撤离人员安全、迅速进入希腊的相关工作。

他与中国驻希腊大使馆工作人员密切合作，核实撤离人员身份，办理入境手续，同时协调安排航班，帮助中国公民返回祖国。

最终，约1.3万名中国公民从利比亚转移至希腊克里特岛。这场撤离行动成为中华人民共和国历史上规模最大的海外公民撤离行动。

“那确实是一次非常艰巨的行动。”伊科诺穆回忆道。

“但正如古希腊人所说：朋友不会在危难时刻抛弃朋友。”

令伊科诺穆至今记忆犹新的，不仅是撤离行动中中国公民的积极配合，还有他们对祖国的深厚感情，以及对希腊方面提供援助所表达的真诚感激。

事实上，伊科诺穆与中国的合作可以追溯到更早的2004年雅典奥运会前后。

随着中国开始筹备2008年北京奥运会，中希两国安全部门就奥运安保工作开展了专业知识和实践经验交流。

作为希腊警方的高级官员，伊科诺穆与中国同行进行了广泛合作，分享希腊举办雅典奥运会期间积累的安保经验。

2019年至2023年担任希腊公民保护部长期间，他继续积极推动中希两国合作，进一步加强双方在安全领域的双边协作，并协助解决在希腊生活和工作的中国公民所面临的相关问题。

在伊科诺穆看来，这些合作经历反映出中希两国关系中更为深厚的文明纽带。

他认为，希腊与中国的合作植根于两国悠久的文明历史。西方文明以亚里士多德为代表，东方文明则以孔子为代表，两大古老文明在思想与价值观层面具有诸多共通之处。

其中，对和平的共同珍视，至今仍深刻影响着两国社会及其人民。

“作为拥有数千年历史的文明，我们需要继续传承这一文化遗产，并为全人类创造更加美好的未来作出贡献。”他说。

多年来，伊科诺穆与中国的联系早已超越了职业领域，延伸至个人和家庭生活。

他曾多次前往中国，走访了中国的许多地方。他的女儿曾在北京对外经济贸易大学完成研究生学业，如今从事与中国企业相关的工作。

这份跨越国界的文化联系甚至延续到了下一代——他的孙子正在学习中文和中国功夫。

伊科诺穆认为，自己家庭的经历，也反映了近年来希腊社会出现的一种更广泛的变化。

“如今，许多希腊人，特别是年轻人，都在积极学习中文，并参与希腊与中国大学之间的交流项目。”他说。

除了不断深化的民间交往，伊科诺穆还特别提到了中希两国在国家关系和经济合作层面的持续发展。

2026年是中希建立全面战略伙伴关系20周年。在他看来，这一伙伴关系为两国关系发展奠定了重要基础。

回顾希腊经济曾经面临的困难时期，他指出，中国对比雷埃夫斯港的投资，是中希经济关系不断深化的重要象征。

“中国在涉及希腊国家利益的问题上支持希腊，希腊也同样支持中国。”他说。

面对当今世界复杂多变的地缘政治局势，伊科诺穆认为，国家之间加强合作比以往任何时候都更加重要。

他强调，国际合作应当建立在和平、相互尊重和开放对话的基础之上。

展望未来，他希望中国与希腊能够进一步拓展合作领域，从航运到教育、文化等各个方面，不断深化双边关系。

“我们都需要彼此的帮助，才能共同实现进步。”伊科诺穆说。

For Eleftherios Oikonomou, few experiences illustrate the strong bond between China and Greece better than the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Libya during the 2011 crisis. Then chief of the Hellenic Police, Oikonomou played a key role in coordinating their safe arrival and temporary stay in Greece. More than a decade later, he looks back on the operation as a defining example of China-Greece friendship, one that he believes continues today through both state-level cooperation and people-to-people ties.

Eleftherios Oikonomou, former chief of the Hellenic Police, sits for an interview with People's Daily Online. (Photo/Patrick Shead-Simmonds)

At the height of the crisis, Oikonomou was given responsibility for coordinating the safe and rapid reception of Chinese citizens arriving in Greece. He worked closely with staff at the Chinese Embassy in Athens to identify evacuees and process their entry into the country, while flights were organized for their return to China. Ultimately, around 13,000 Chinese citizens were transferred from Libya to Crete as part of what became the largest overseas evacuation in the history of the People's Republic of China.

"It really was a difficult operation," he said. "But as the ancient Greeks used to say: a friend does not abandon friends in times of danger." What remains particularly vivid to Oikonomou is the cooperation of the Chinese evacuees, their attachment to their homeland and their appreciation for the assistance they received in Greece.

Oikonomou's cooperation with China began several years earlier, around the time of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. As China prepared to host the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Greek and Chinese security authorities exchanged expertise and experience. As a senior officer of the Hellenic Police, Oikonomou worked extensively with his Chinese counterparts, sharing lessons from Greece's experience of hosting the Games. He continued to support cooperation between the two countries during his time as minister for citizen protection from 2019 to 2023, helping to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of security and address issues concerning Chinese citizens living and working in Greece.

For Oikonomou, these experiences point to something deeper in the relationship between the two countries. He sees the cooperation between Greece and China as connected to their histories as ancient civilizations, represented by Aristotle in the West and Confucius in the East. He believes values such as a shared appreciation of peace continue to shape both countries and their people.

"As civilizations that go back thousands of years, we need to continue this cultural heritage and contribute to the betterment of humanity as a whole," he said.

Over the years, Oikonomou's connections with China have also extended beyond his professional life. He has traveled widely in the country, while his daughter completed postgraduate studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing and now works with Chinese businesses. The connection has even reached another generation, with his grandson learning Chinese and kung fu.

For Oikonomou, his family's experience reflects a broader change he has observed in Greece. "Many Greeks, particularly young people, now participate in Chinese-language learning and exchange programs between Greek and Chinese universities," he said.

Alongside these growing people-to-people connections, Oikonomou also points to the strengthening of relations at the state and economic levels. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Greece-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which he sees as an important foundation for relations between the two countries. Recalling a difficult period for the Greek economy, he described Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus as an important symbol of the developing economic relationship. "China supports Greece on its national issues, and Greece supports China as well," he said.

For Oikonomou, today's geopolitical uncertainties make cooperation between countries even more important. He believes such relationships should rest on peace, mutual respect and open dialogue, and hopes China-Greece cooperation will continue to expand in areas ranging from shipping to education and culture. "We all need the help of each other to achieve progress," he said.

来源：人民网 People’s Daily Online

编译：中希时报