In an interview to Greek state broadcaster ERT, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said the most difficult part of the economic crisis in Greece was in the past. Tsipras stressed that the Greek people had shown great resilience and patience, adding that the path for a debt reduction had opened after the hard first review on the Greek program by its creditors. ‘The country will return to growth in the second part of 2016’, he continued. Commenting on the deal with Chinese company COSCO, he said that it was a mutually beneficial agreement for both parties, paving the way for a strategic partnership between Greece and China. He added that the goal was to import knowhow into Greece and raise Greek exports to China, while strengthening cooperation in the shipping industry between the two countries. The Greek PM underlined that the country was a ‘friendly place for investments’.

Tsipras and the Greek delegation visited the Great Wall of China on Sunday, while earlier the Greek PM met with the head of Wanda Group, Wang Jianlin, with the latter expressing interest in investing in the tourism industry in Greece and the creation of complete tourism infrastructures, as well as a movie production studio.

Tsipras’s official program starts on Monday, July 4, when he is scheduled to meet with President of National People’s Congress of China, Zhang Dejiang, while later he will meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and they will sign a common statement proclaiming the upgrading of the Greco-Chinese corporate and strategic relations. China has included Greece in its strategic plans to expand trade in the EU and aims to enter into the Greek railway network. During his visit in China, the Greek PM will sign a series of agreements in the fields of culture, education and importing and exporting deals. On Tuesday Tsipras is scheduled to visit the Forbidden City and lay a reef at the tomb of the Hero’s Memorial at Tiananmen Square and a meet with China President Xi Jinping. The Greek PM will also meet with the CEOs of COSCO and Alibaba on Wednesday.