Chinese senior official of the People's Republic of China, Jia Qinglin, accompanied by a high-profile delegation of government officials and business people are currently in Athens (October 23-27), upon invitation by the Greek Minister of Development, Competitiveness and Shipping, Michalis Chryssohoidis.
The Chinese delegation was received by Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias who stressed the "strategic partnership" between the two countries and made a special reference to the investment by the Chinese multinational COSCO at the port of Piraeus which "highlights China’s interest in forging closer economic and commercial ties with Greece." On his part, Jia referred to Papoulias as a "true friend of the Chinese people."
During their stay, Chinese business people are scheduled to sign with Greek business people deals worth €550 million. The 35-member Chinese delegation includes representatives from the fields of telecommunications, banking, energy, electronics, railways and real estate, as well as the car, food, glass and clothing industries. The heftiest of the deals to be signed involves a contract for Greek marble exports to China.
Other important deals involve the food and beverage industry, cooperation between Greek and Chinese telecoms and contracts for renewable energy exports.
The Chinese shipping group COSCO has expressed keen interest in Piraeus port, (it already operates Pier 2 and Pier 3 of Piraeus Container Terminals) and the subject is expected to top the Greek-Chinese meeting agenda. Marking the meeting’s opening, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday for the deepening of trade relations between the two countries.
source:http://www.greeknewsagenda.gr
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