Greece looks to Chinese trade fair to exit bailout woes

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Greece opened its largest ever trade fair in the northern port city of Thessaloniki with China as the guest of honor, while at the same time vowed it will exit successfully its bailout program in 2018 helped by strong growth.

“The country, after eight whole years, will have exited bailouts and suffocating supervision. That’s our aim,” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday during the opening ceremony of the 82nd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF). “We are determined to do everything we can.”

Tsipras praised China’s Belt and Road Initiative and underscored the crucial role Chinese investments played in efforts to overcome its debt crisis and restore growth.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresses the opening ceremony of the 82nd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, September 9, 2017. /AFP Photo‍

“The Chinese government’s strategic initiative to invest more than one trillion dollars globally with the ‘New Silk Road’ finds Greece in a phase of recovery from the economic crisis, at a time when it must use its most important comparative the advantage, which is that our country is at the convergence point of three continents, to become a global transit, trade and energy hub,” the Greek leader said.

Tsipras cut the ribbon at the Chinese pavilion during a ceremony which was broadcast on Greek national broadcaster ERT, welcoming China's role as the guest of honor at the TIF as "a landmark in bilateral relations, which have become stronger in recent years and have great prospects for the future."

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (C) cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony of China's stand, this year's country of honor, at the 82nd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), September 9, 2017. /AFP Photo

He said there is also great potential for cooperation in tourism and welcomed the introduction of a direct airline service between Athens and Beijing on September 30.

He then toured the Chinese pavilion, were gathered more than 100 Chinese brand enterprises from such sectors as transportation, telecommunications, energy, intelligent manufacturing and environmental protection, and expressed hope this will mean the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday extended congratulations on the opening of the fair and said the Chinese government is willing to work with Greece and other countries to better synergize the Belt and Road Initiative.

The TIF has been the largest trade fair in Greece in terms of the number of participants and visitors in the past decade, according to the Greek organizers. And some 250,000 visitors from 17 countries are expected to browse the booths of 1,500 exhibitors.

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