Greek Minister sees bright future for bilateral trade after visit to China
- Source: Xinhua
- [08:48 June 25 2010]
- Comments
Greek Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Louka Katseli said Thursday Greek-Chinese collaboration could be enhanced in the near future in sectors such as shipping, trade, tourism, investments and culture.
Briefing Greek media on the results of talks she held with Chinese government officials during a recent five-day trip to Beijing and Shanghai for the 2010 World Expo, Katseli expressed optimism that bilateral cooperation could be further strengthened.
Praising Chinese company COSCO’s investment in Piraeus port, "which opened new horizons for the Greek economy," Katseli said there was strong interest for closer cooperation in shipping between the two global leaders in the sector.
Trade prospects seemed equally bright, she said, noting that, in the first four months of 2010 as Greece faced a severe economic crisis, exports of products and services to China increased by 40 percent, partly due to COSCO’s presence in Greece.
In the framework of efforts to enhance trade relations, Chinese companies would strengthen their presence in Greek international trade fairs and vice versa, she said.
In a first step, during this September’s International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki, a teleconference via satellite connection would be held with representatives of Shanghai’s EXPO with the support of Huawei.
Katseli said she presented Chinese officials with certain ideas on investment in Greece that would be examined in the following weeks and months. They included possible investments in tourism, renewable energy sources, new technologies, privatization of Greek state companies and major infrastructure works.
Regarding the tourism sector, a vital source of revenue for the Greek national economy, talks were under way on the re launch of a direct air connection between Beijing-Shanghai and Athens, the Greek Minister said.
She said so far the Greek Pavilion in Shanghai had more than one million Chinese visitors, who were very interested in Greek culture.
Asked about reactions in China to the continuing strikes and protests at Piraeus port and Greece in general against austerity measures and reforms in the labor market, Katseli said the Chinese cared about security and stability of the taxation framework.
The Greek government’s stance was that workers had the right to strike this should be respected, but their actions caused negative reports in international media and more problems to the Greek tourism industry and economy, she said.
