Greece to buy 142 ships from China

Πηγή: China Daily
May 18 2013

Greek Shipping Minister Kostis Moussouroulis said here Saturday Greekshipowners have recently signed contracts to buy 142 new ships from Chinese shipbuildingcompanies.

The orders, which were signed in April, accounted for more than 60 percent of the recentglobal orders of Greek shipowners, said the Greek official.

The shipping industry, including shipbuilding, is one of the most important sectors for economicand trade cooperation between the two countries.

In the next decade, China will remain an important global exporter and become an increasinglyimportant importer, according to the minister.

The new orders are the investment of Greek shipowners for the future, said Moussouroulis.

Wang Qi, general manager of Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd, said Greece hasbecome an important client of China's shipbuilding enterprises.

As one of China's major shipbuilding companies, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltdhas built a total of 67 ships for Greek shipowners in recent years, accounting for about 30percent of the company's output, Wang said.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is on an official visit to China from Wednesday toSunday. Leaders of the two countries have vowed to boost cooperation.