Setback for Greek government's Pireaus port renegotiation plan with Chinese

Setback for Greek government's Pireaus port renegotiation plan with Chinese

Greece’s new government has had to back off from one of its anti-austerity plans for Piraeus, the country’s biggest port. br br As well as halting the privatization of two thirds of the port, it wanted to renegotiate a 35-year deal with Chinese shipping firm COSCO to expand the two main container terminals there. br br But Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis admitted to euronews it can’t be done: “We will go on with what has been agreed by the previous government. That is a straightforward statement. We have very close contacts with China, and things will be quite clear and in favour of going on with a number of initiatives that they have started.”br br Late last year, the previous prime minister, Antonis Samaras, agreed the expansion deal, which was a conditions of the EU-IMF bailout.br br The Chinese state-run company called it an example of “mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation” that would create 3,000 jobs at one of the largest and busiest Mediterranean ports.


User: euronews (in English)

Views: 18

Uploaded: 2015-01-29

Duration: 01:40

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