CHINA-GREECE/PORT SALE China expresses concern after Greece decides to halt Piraeus port sale

Record ID: 859367

  • Title: CHINA-GREECE/PORT SALE China expresses concern after Greece decides to halt Piraeus port sale
  • Date: 29th January 2015
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 29, 2015) (REUTERS) COMMERCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SHEN DANYANG WALKING IN FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) COMMERCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SHEN DANYANG SAYING: "We are highly concerned about this. Our bilateral relationship and bilateral economic and trade cooperation has always been good between China and Greece. China's Cosco Group's cooperation (with Greece) at container terminal two and three at the Piraeus port has been a success story in the two countries' mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, and is in the interests of both Chinese and Greek people." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) COMMERCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SHEN DANYANG SAYING: "The Commerce Ministry will continue to closely monitor the direction of relevant policies of the new Greek government, maintain contact with the Greek government, and urge the Greek government to protect the legal rights of Chinese companies, including Cosco." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • City:
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAZ613RT4Y5B4ZSNBEUIVYN3FT
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  • Story Text: China said on Thursday (January 29) it was "highly concerned" after the new Greek government led by the left-wing Syriza party announced it will halt the sale of a majority stake in Greece's biggest port, Piraeus, begun by the previous government.
    Greece had shortlisted China's Cosco Group and four other suitors as potential buyers of a 67 percent stake in Piraeus Port Authority OLP last year under its privatisation scheme agreed with its international lenders.
    Cosco manages two of the port's cargo piers.
    Binding bids for the stake were expected by the end of the month.
    "We are highly concerned about this. Our bilateral relationship and bilateral economic and trade cooperation has always been good between China and Greece. China's Cosco Group's cooperation (with Greece) at container terminal two and three at the Piraeus port has been a success story in the two countries' mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, and is in the interests of both Chinese and Greek people," Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang told a news conference in Beijing.
    Shen said his ministry would closely follow the policy direction of the new Greek government and urged Athens to protect the legal rights of Chinese companies.
    "The Commerce Ministry will continue to closely monitor the direction of relevant policies of the new Greek government, maintain contact with the Greek government, and urge the Greek government to protect the legal rights of Chinese companies, including Cosco," he added.
    After announcing a halt to the privatisation of the port of Piraeus on Tuesday (January 27), the government also indicated it would put the whole programme on hold.
    Leftist Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras threw down an open challenge to international creditors on Wednesday (January 28) by halting privatisation plans agreed under the country's bailout deal, prompting a third day of heavy losses on financial markets.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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