Greece, China sign $5.7b in trade deals as Chinese premier visits

ATHENS (AFP) - Greece and China on Thursday signed over a dozen accords worth some 3.4 billion euros ($5.7 billion) as Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang began a three-day official visit.

"Greece can become China's gateway in Europe, and the start of a European trade corridor," Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said at a joint press conference with Mr Li.

Athens seeks "to bring China even closer to Europe," Mr Samaras said.

The deals included multi-billion-dollar Chinese bank loans to build at least 10 Greek-owned ships in Chinese shipyards.

There are also agreements on the construction of solar energy parks, and trade deals involving marble, granite, wine and olive oil.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.