Chinese premier to promote trade, ties during Greece visit
Print Edition
PREMIER Li Keqiang arrived in Athens yesterday for his first official visit to Greece since taking office last year.
At the airport, Li hailed China-Greece ties, which he said have come a long way since the establishment of diplomatic relations 42 years ago.
Noting that the two countries have always stood behind each other’s core interests, Li said that during his visit he expects to consolidate political mutual trust and expand pragmatic cooperation in all areas.
He said he is also looking forward to promoting exchanges between China and Greece, and pushing for greater ties.
Li is scheduled to meet with top Greek leaders, including President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Parliament Speaker Evangelos Vasileios Meimarakis.
Representatives of the two nations are also expected to sign more than 20 deals on trade, investment, finance, shipping, technology, culture and quality inspection, said Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli.
As a highlight of Li’s visit, the two prime ministers will jointly inspect the Piraeus Container Terminal near Athens, part of which is operated by China’s state-owned shipping giant COSCO under a 35-year lease signed in 2009.
It was the first time a Chinese firm had been granted the operating rights to a foreign port.
Li will also address a forum on bilateral maritime cooperation and deliver a speech to expound China’s views on maritime issues.
The premier’s visit will help to consolidate friendship, deepen political trust and expand cooperation in various fields, said China’s Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao.
Greece is the second leg of Li’s two-nation European tour, which earlier took him to Britain, where he witnessed the signing of a raft of cooperation deals worth more than US$30 billion.
The premier will conclude his visit tomorrow.
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