Li Keqiang in Greece: both countries vow to strengthen tie

World Today

Li Keqiang in Greece: both countries vow to strengthen tie

Chinese Premier LI Keqiang’s official visit to Greece has proved very productive. Following his talks with his Greek counterpart in Athens, the two heads of government oversaw the signing of huge trade deals greatly broadening the scope of cooperation. Both countries have hailed the breakthrough as mutually beneficial. Li Ying has the details.

The world’s fastest-growing economy and the world’s most famous sea-faring nation usher in a new age of cooperation. There is big business to talk, and the outcome was encouraging. The scale of the deals is unprecedented in the history of the two countries’ cooperation. The two governments inked a comprehensive series of trade and investment agreements worth 4.6 billion U.S. dollars.

Moreover, China says it plans to increase its purchases of Greek government bonds when new ones are issued later this summer. This is good news for a country struggling to lift its economy out of recession.

Europe is becoming increasingly important for China to seek sustainable development of its economy. The Greek Prime Minister said he would like to see Greece, through its seaports and airports, become “China’s gate to Europe” and the two leaders’ talks were practical and constructive.

Li Keqiang called for more investment into the Piraeus Container Terminal project at Greece’s largest port, which is jointly run by China’s shipping giant COSCO and the Greek port authority. Li Keqiang also said the two countries will explore new areas of economic growth, especially in maritime cooperation. He added that he hopes Greece would oppose protectionism and help advance talks on a China-Europe investment agreement.

Li Keqiang in Greece: both countries vow to strengthen tie

Chinese Premier LI Keqiang's official visit to Greece has proved very productive. Following his talks with his Greek counterpart in Athens, the two heads of government oversaw the signing of huge trade deals greatly broadening the scope of cooperation. Both countries have hailed the breakthrough as mutually beneficial. Li Ying has the details.