China to leftist Athens gov’t: Protect our companies’ rights, interests in Greece

The Chinese Commerce Ministry intends to ask the Greek government to protect the rights and the legal interests of Chinese companies in Greece

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang on Thursday joined a rising international chorus of jittery investors and market watchers by saying China is “deeply concerned” over the new radical leftist government’s plans to halt the privatization of the Piraeus Port Authority.

Chinese multinational COSCO is one of five bidders in an international tender for the privatization of the entire port of Piraeus, the largest and busiest port in Greece.

“We have read in press reports that the new Greek government announced on Jan. 28 its plans to halt the privatization of the Piraeus port. We are deeply concerned about this,” Shen said.

He added that his ministry intends to ask the new Tsipras government to protect the rights and the legal interests of Chinese companies in Greece, including Cosco.

The Chinese multinational holds the lease on the container port in Piraeus, one of the most successful and high-profile foreign investments in Greece over the last decade.