Greek and Chinese Premiers confirm excellent relations

There were joint statements to the press made following the meeting between the PM and visiting Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang at Maximos Mansion, government headquarters.

The Chinese premier is on a three-day visit to Greece, which is expected to sign 19 cooperation agreements with China worth 6.5 billion dollars in the sectors of tourism, shipping, infrastructure, transportation and agriculture.

Samaras said that they covered a wide range of topics on international and bilateral level during their talks, and he expressed his appreciation for China's support during the recent and difficult years of the crisis, which Greece is coming out of.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras met visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as he stepped off his plane at Athens International Airport on Thursday, accompanied by his spouse. China's prime minister official visit started with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Greek Parliament.

During the visit, the two countries are expected to reaffirm their commitment to boosting bilateral trade ties and sign several bilateral agreements, including three on the financing of small and medium sized enterprises operating in China by the China Development Bank, maritime protection and the offer of services by the China Classification Society to Greek-flagged ships.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Cooperation between the State Oceanic Administration of China (SOA ) and the Greek government, involving the cooperation of scientific institutes, seminars and exchange of information and visits, refers to the cooperation of the two sides in the sectors of maritime environmental protection, development of the sea resources, sea observation, forecast and warning of natural disasters as well as in the research, development and training on marine scientific issues.

Moreover, the China Classification Society's authorization agreement on the offering of services to Greek-flagged vessels will further boost the current, stable and multilateral institutional framework of the bilateral cooperation as well as the service of the Greek vessels that are built in China or dock at Chinese ports.

The third agreement refers to the strengthening of cooperation with the China Development Bank which will offer a substantial financial assistance to small and medium sized enterprises active in China.

According to Clarkson Research Services data, the overall strategy of domestic and international investments, exports and high industrial production that China follows increases the demand for shipping services.

Shipping ministry sources say that Greece has a special interest in maintaining the close shipping relations with China that will allow the free and unobstructed access of the Greek ships to cargo traffic to and from China.

Clarkson Research Services say that the Chinese policy in the shipping sector aims to gain a higher share of the market something that is also supported by the large number of vessels constructed in Chinese shipyards as well as the general policy in shipping as an additional 'vehicle' towards the preservation and increase of the country's development rates.

Moreover, the shipping sector is one of the most important channels of foreign capital inflow to the country and one of the sectors that support the employment.

In 2013, China held the first place in the world production with the Greek ship owners being second in the Chinese shipyards clientele (after the Chinese). The Greek shipping companies placed orders for 141 vessels with Chinese shipyards, with 6,869,373 gt total capacity and 5.02 million tonnes compensated gross tonnes (CGT) which indicates China's interest to keep and increase its privileged relation with the Greek shipping.

On Friday morning the Chinese premier, accompanied by Samaras, will visit Piraeus port containers terminal (Cosco's subsidiary) at Neo Ikonio.