At the same time as Greek PM Alexis Tsipras travels to Berlin on Monday for a closely watched meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a trio of the government’s top ministers will be headed in the other direction, to China for official contacts in Beijing.
Government Deputy PM Yiannis Dragasakis – the one with two “n’s” in his first name – along with FM Nikos Kotzias and Minister of State Nikos Pappas are expected to hold preparatory talks with Chinese leadership ahead of a planned visit by Tsipras himself.
The focus will undoubtedly be on Chinese investments in Greece, given that Chinese multination Cosco runs two terminals at the port of Piraeus, the largest in Greece, and is also a bidder in a tender to assume management of the entire Piraeus Port Authority.
One “hiccup” in any further Cosco involvement is internal opposition by SYRIZA’s anti-capitalist “Left Platform” to further privatizations in Greece — particularly at the port — although the new government apparently has reined in such opposition of late. Chinese interests are also reportedly interested in rail links in Greece, building a new private airport in western Crete and other projects.
