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| National emblem of the People's Republic of China (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas on Tuesday met with his Chinese counterpart Xie Hangsheng and reaffirmed the mutual will to further strengthen political and economic bilateral relations, particularly in the sectors of shipping, tourism, trade and investments.
According to a press release from the Greek Foreign Ministry, Mr. Xie Hangsheng referred the crisis in the eurozone, expressing recognition of and respect for the efforts of the Greek government and people to set the economy on a definitive course out of the crisis, and stating his conviction that Greece will be successful in this effort.
He noted China’s positive stance throughout the crisis and his countries interest in the eurozone’s stabilization and emergence from the crisis at the soonest possible time. He also expressed his satisfaction at the positive decisions taken by the Eurogroup with regard to Greece.
Mr. Kourkoulas provided and in-depth briefing on the latest major decision taken on the European level; decisions that ensure a return to viability for the Greek debt. “This is a new beginning for Greece,” Mr. Kourkoulas said, “with the clear support of its European and international lenders, which puts an end to doubts about Greece’s remaining in the eurozone, while also creating more positive conditions for attracting investments.” Mr. Kourkoulas also expressed Greece’s desire to play an active role in the China-EU strategic relationship ahead of the Greek EU Presidency in the first half of 2014, noting the Greek Prime Minister’s intention to visit China. He also pointed up Greece’s positive experience with the Chinese investment in the Port of Piraeus, as well as the prospects for further investments in the transport, energy and tourism sectors.
They also discussed ways to further improve the visa issuing process for Chinese citizens who wish to visit Greece.
Xie Hangsheng reiterated his gratitude for Greece’s support for China in the latter’s hosting of the Olympic Games, as well as for Greece’s invaluable assistance in evacuating 30,000 Chinese citizens from Libya.
Accompanied by the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation, Peter Mihalos, Mr. Kourkoulas visited COSCO headquarters for talks with the company’s president, Captain Wei Jiafu, and with senior executives.
Captain Wei Jiafu expressed his satisfaction at the successful course of the strategic investment in the Port of Piraeus and his desire for the port to become a gateway to the markets of central, southern and eastern Europe, as well as to the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. He mentioned the company’s future business plans and COSCO’s agreement with Hewlett Packard and TRAINOSE as an important development that reaffirms the role Greece can play, with expansion of activities at the Port of Piraeus as a departure point. Mr. Kourkoulas briefed Captain Wei Jiafu on the programme of structural changes being implemented by the government with the aim of improving competitiveness and the business climate in Greece.
Messrs. Kourkoulas and Mihalos also participated as speakers in an investment seminar co-hosted by the Greek Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, and aimed at informing Chinese entrepreneurs about opportunities for investment in Greece. The Greek government agency Invest in Greece gave a detailed presentation at the seminar of investment opportunities in Greece.
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