FOURTEEN bilateral agreements were signed yesterday, between Greece and China during a visit to Athens by China’s vice-president Zhang Dejiang and members of the Chinese Council of ministers.
The Chinese vice-premier was on a three-day visit, at the invitation of Greek Vice-Premier Theodoros Pangalos.
The two vice-premiers and their delegations met on Tuesday morning for talks which led to the signing of the 14 agreements involving the shipping sector, transport, tourism and telecoms, as well as Greek exports of olive oil to China.
Zhang Dejiang, who signed the contracts at a ceremony in Athens where Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos was present, said that Beijing wants to stand by Greece in its moment of crisis.
“The government is going to encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to come to Greece to make partnerships and
investments,” he said after
the ceremony.
“We are convinced that the Greek Government is capable of overcoming the crisis and returning to stable growth.”
During the meeting with Pangalos, Zhang expressed China’s support for the Greek Government and its efforts to overcome the economic crisis, saying that there was “mutual desire by Athens and Beijing to strengthen beneficial cooperation in order to deal with the economic crisis.”
Later, Zhang Dejiang, was received by Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister George Papandreou.