Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is due to pay an official visit to China in mid-May in a bid to boost bilateral ties, promote Greece as a tourism destination to the huge Chinese market and seek investment, Kathimerini has learned.
According to sources, Mr Samaras is due to arrive in Beijing on May 15 and to meet the following day with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who assumed his post last month, before talks on May 17 with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Samaras is likely to be the second European head of state to meet Li following the latter’s meeting with French President Francois Hollande.
During his trip, which will end on May 19, Mr Samaras is also planning to visit the industrial city of Hangzhou, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, to meet with entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile Chinese state television is reportedly planning to launch a new television series called “Glamorous Greece,” promoting Greek archaeological sites and other destinations which, it is hoped, will boost the crucial tourism sector.
Mr Samaras insisted the economy is already rebounding during a visit to the Corinth-Patra road construction site where works resumed after halting due to the crisis. “Recovery is in sight,” said Mr Samaras, who visited the site with PASOK’s Evangelos Venizelos to rebuff reports of a coalition rift.