Greek PM in China seeking investment, trade deals

Greek PM oversees signing of agreements on China visit targeting investment, business deals

Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) -- Greece's prime minister is in China seeking investment and trade deals to help revive his country's recession-battered economy.

Antonis Samaras met Thursday with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, after which the two witnessed the signing of agreements in fields including shipping and telecommunications. Li said during the meeting that China hopes the two countries can double their two-way trade by 2015 as well as boost cultural exchanges, the state Xinhua News Agency reported.

Samaras is traveling with dozens of businessmen and several ministers in a bid to attract Chinese buyers for Greek assets and products. China's Cosco is already credited with reviving the Greek port of Piraeus and Greece is seeking more foreign investors for state assets it is selling as demanded by its bailout deal.

China is the world's second largest economy and the government expects its companies will invest around $500 billion overseas in coming years.

Samaras also plans to visit China's financial capital of Shanghai during his trip.