Greece hopes to build economic ties with China: minister
English.news.cn 2011-02-24 18:12:36
by Wang Ping
BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) --
There are good prospects for cooperation between Greece and China, and Greece hopes for stronger trade links between the two countries, according to a visiting Greek minister.
Ioannis Diamantidis, Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs, Island and Fisheries, told Xinhua Wednesday:
"Greece and China have established a wide relationship in the financial, commercial and maritime sectors, and there is a good prospect for wider bilateral trade and economical cooperation."
Last October, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Greece, where he and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreous signed agreements on trade and economic cooperation.
"We are materializing the agreements between the Greek Prime Minister and his Chinese counterpart. During my visit in Beijing, we will implement some of the details. Among them, we just received a 5-billion-dollar financing from Chinese banks for the building of Greek vessels in a Chinese shipyard," he said.
The Greek minister said there were a number of sectors for the two countries to enhance cooperation. China could import more high-quality agriculture products, such as olive oil, while Greece could help China in maritime training with its expertise on that.
Tourism is another major field of mutual cooperation, according to the minister. "We also welcome Chinese tourists to see all the beauties and beautiful islands in our country, especially cruise by ships."
He also talked of Chinese maritime freight group Cosco's operation of two terminals at Piraeus Port, Greece's biggest port.
Diamantidis said China's investment in Piraeus Port was conducive to exporting Chinese commodities to the EU, due to the port's geographical location.
As to Greece's debt crisis, the minister said his government had taken effective austerity measures, the financial situation in the country had recovered and investors' confidence had been regained.
He also expreesed his appreciation for China's buying of Greek government bonds last year. "It shows China's confidence in the Greek economy, and that both countries make the right decisions."
(Agenzia Nuova Cina)