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''Greece is looking to the future: everybody is trying to secure investments for the creation of new jobs. Everybody's dreaming about the time when young Greeks will not be forced to leave the country because of unemployment, but will be able to find work in Greece'', said a senior government source after the visit to China. "There are also people who think that we will not succeed, because of petty interests. I know that Greek citizens enjoy the positive results that have been achieved so far and I can tell those who rely on our failure that I will not do them a favour and retreat; and Greek people will not fall back, either. Even some of his fellow party members do not agree with Mr Tsipras,” said the same source, in response to statements by SYRIZA about the cancellation of privatisation.

There are two reasons why the Chinese want to have stability in Greece: the first is the fact that the European Union is the largest government partner of China, and the second is the fact that much of China's reserves are in euro. A possible destabilisation of Greece would affect the EU.

The government's aim regarding this trip was to involve Greece in China’s investment plans by means of participation in the Greek privatisation and development of a tourist flow to the country. Speaking of tourism, the government source said that, at the meeting with Samaras, the president of China had told him that 400 million Chinese would travel outside China in the next 7 years, and the Prime Minister responded with humour that, this year, there would be 17 million tourists in Greece and he wished that as many Chinese, a small part of the total number, would come to the country. Precisely in the tourism sector, the government has started advertising Greece on Chinese TV channels and a movie featuring Chinese stars will be made, which will promote the beauty of the country. There is also interest in holiday homes in Greece. Everything necessary is currently being done in order to solve the visa problem.

"We have established links and contacts and, together with the group of businessmen who came with us, we have discussed real things. But it is important that we should have a follow-up - something that our country has not had so far. A government group will be established – its purpose will be to see where windows and opportunities have opened, what things can happen and which people will participate. The direction is given by China’s government, although there is a private sector, too, mainly in Shanghai," said the source.

Government representatives have had several meetings. The Greek Prime Minister is the second European, after Francois Hollande, who met with the Chinese leadership. Both the Prime Minister and the President of China are people who understand today's realities. "They have a friendly attitude towards Greece and therefore we should observe what we have talked about. We have created a positive momentum and we need to maintain it," said one of the ministers who took part in the visit.

The Prime Minister met with the mayor of Shanghai, the governor of the region, as well as governors of other, less-known regions, and agreed with them that they would come to Greece and find opportunities for the development of economic ties.

"We are leaving with the news that the Chinese Railways and COSCO will participate in the privatisation of the Greek Railway Company. We have confirmed the interest of Chinese companies in Athens airport, but this should be discussed with Hochtief and the Canadians, since they will buy their share. Also, a Chinese group is interested in provincial airports. There are two groups of 13 provincial airports. We also saw Huawey and ΖΤΕ - two of the biggest high-tech companies globally. Huawey has a turnover of 35 billion dollars, and, in three years, it will reach 70 billion dollars; both companies have shown an interest in the opening of a research centre in Greece. They are also thinking of the establishment of a logistics centre like Hewlett Packard", added the government source.

There are great opportunities in the field of shipping, too. The fact that Greek ships transport 60% of China’s oil and 59% of the country’s imports is indicative of these opportunities. In parallel, 146 Greek ships are currently being built in Chinese shipyards. COSCO will increase its activities in the port of Piraeus.