Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-07-04

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece is entering a new phase, PM Tsipras says

[01] Greece is entering a new phase, PM Tsipras says

On his part, Li Keqiang underlined that the Greek-Chinese relations are completely honest and stressed that Chinese companies take a positive view of the investment market in Greece. "China will help Greece to become stronger in a strong Europe," he said.

Referring to the new agreement struck between Greece and its European partners, Tsipras said that this will "help our country get back on its feet and meet its obligations promptly, but without crushing Greek society."

"The sustainability of Greece's debt has the supportive guarantee of our European partners, whenever this is judged expedient, while there is a clear-cut clause that the cost of servicing [the debt] will not exceed 15 pct of GDP in the medium- and long-term," he told the forum.

The above decisions and the clarifications expected to follow "send a strong message to international markets that Greece is permanently entering a new phase...We are dynamically entering a new period of recovery and regaining the confidence of investors in the prospects of the Greek economy," Tsipras said.

Greece was in the midst of a programme to reform the state and the country's growth orientation, seeking to use its geopolitical position and comparative advantages in a series of sectors supported by a recently passed developmental law, he added.

"We are giving emphasis to generous tax exemptions based on performance, rather than direct subsidies with dubious results. We are linking EU funding with the above developmental directions," he said, also noting efforts to remove bureaucratic obstacles and fight tax evasion.

The government's aim was to create an "a public and private investment 'shock' to combat divestment and reduce unemployment," Tsipras added.

Greek-Chinese cooperation

Tsipras insisted that he was not trying to paint a "rose-tinted" picture of the situation in an attempt to "sell" Greece to Chinese investors but sought "to show that your confidence in the Greek economy during the tough years of deep recession was justified." Referring to a contract with COSCO for Piraeus port that was ratified by Greek MPs four days earlier, he said the cooperation with COSCO had proved mutually beneficial for both sides, opening paths for Chinese companies but also benefiting the Greek economy.

"The significant support of Greek tourism, cooperation between Greek and Chinese universities, mutual cultural and educational exchanges, exports of our fine agricultural products to China, the building of Greek ships in ultra-modern Chinese shipyards and the transfer of Chinese citizens to Crete during the crisis in Libya, among others, confirm that we are strategic partners and not just opportunist collaborators," the Greek prime minister told the forum.

Greece and China were linked by their long history, since each had made a decisive contribution to the world's cultural heritage within their geographic and historic boundaries, Tsipras pointed out. The paths of the two countries were at times parallel and at other times intersected decisively, he noted, with each helping in the development of philosophical thought but also through their trade ties and cultural exchanges, such as on the legendary Silk Road that had passed through Greece to Europe after 127 A.D.

China can depend on Greece, "the soul of the Mediterranean," for its new silk road, the "one belt one road of today that brings us closer," Tsipras added, expressing certainty that this strategy was not at risk following the Brexit vote in the UK.

Referring to the result of the UK referendum, Tsipras said this caused justified concern in global markets but also took a more optimistic view. European institutions will enter into a period of fertile negotiations with the UK to ensure the smoothest possible exit and a regime that will govern EU-UK relations, he said.

"The message that as Europe we must not underestimate is that the Union is not something to take for granted, but that there are objective crisis factors that must be faced with a sense of urgency and mutual support," he said.

Tsipras is currently on an official visit to China, returning to Athens on July 6.

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