The port of Piraeus in Greece is a major terminal for vessels traveling from Asia to Europe. Major Chinese shipping company COSCO has built the harbor into a key station that links maritime and land transport routes. CGTN's Zhao Yunfei visited the site and asked how local workers view the investments from China.

Vessels approach Piraeus as the Greek port awakens from another peaceful night on the Aegean Sea. This harbor is the largest of its kind in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It's also a pivot point for China-Europe land-sea transportation.

ZHAO YUNFEI PIRAEUS, GREECE "We have traveled with the vessel behind me, COSCO SHIPPING VIRGO, from China all the way here to the Port of Piraeus, Greece. Soon after we docked, the unloading work began. From here, some of the containers will get quote-unquote 'transferred' to trains and they will be delivered to many parts of Europe via railway."

About 10 express trains depart from Piraeus Port every week. The route extends throughout central and eastern Europe, passing through Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

SU XUDONG, MANAGING DIRECTOR COSCO SHIPPING LINES GREECE S.A. "We treat Piraeus as a strategic location to provide rapid transportation services. We have provided high-efficiency services for our customers."

To boost that efficiency, Chinese investor COSCO SHIPPING established a new subsidiary last year just to handle the railway business. The new firm commits to localization. Among its 140 employees, only 4 are Chinese, the results of efforts to boost local employment. Addressing concerns that Chinese investment may take over the market in the area, the company's manager says she doesn't think so.

VARVARA SKAVATSOU, MANAGER CONTROL-RAIL TOWER DEPT., COSCO SHIPPING LINES GREECE S.A. "There is the growth of business, and this is applied to all of Europe, not just Greece. In my opinion, what the Chinese government is attempting is a healthy investment. They are investing and making infrastructure, which benefits my country."

SU XUDONG, MANAGING DIRECTOR COSCO SHIPPING LINES GREECE S.A. "The entire service chain, including our equipment and staff, all rely on local resources. We never thought of dominating the market. We vow to have an open market based on the idea of mutual benefit."

Su says the demand at the Piraeus Port itself is small. But thanks to the connectivity, the trade volume has increased. And as for Chinese exporters, they benefit from convenient service. Zhao Yunfei, CGTN, at the Port of Piraeus, Greece.