China, Greece to sign cooperation deals

BEIJING - China and Greece will sign several deals of cooperation during Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to the European country this month.

They will cover areas including logistics, energy, shipping, real estate, wine and olive oil imports, said Vice Minister of Commerce Gao Yan at a press conference on Thursday.

Gao said Li's Greece visit will achieve many results. The two sides will promote the opening of markets, encourage cooperation among business and investment promotion institutions, chambers of commerce and committees.

China will support its companies to join Greece's privatization programs, Gao added.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao said Li will meet with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, President Karolos Papoulias, and Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Evangelos-Vasileios Meimarakis.

The two sides will issue a joint statement, sign several governmental agreements and business contracts in areas such as infrastructure construction, culture, ocean, and quality control.

The two prime ministers will also attend a bilateral ocean cooperation forum and visit the wharf in the port of Piraeus, Greece's biggest port, currently operated by China's COSCO.

Wang noted that this is the first time a Chinese corporation has been given a long-term concession to operate a large port in Europe. The wharf was operated well in the past four years and made positive contributions to local economic growth and an increase in employment, according to the vice foreign minister.

He said that Li's Greece visit will consolidate the two countries' friendship, deepen their political mutual trust, and expand cooperation in all areas.

Li will pay official visits to Britain and Greece from June 16 to 21, at the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron and Samaras.