Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-11 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Gov't spokesman Tzanakopoulos estimates that we will soon have an agreement [02] EU Commission vice-president Ansip pays visit to Athens [03] Important agreements between Greece and China during PM Tsipras' visit to Bejing --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Gov't spokesman Tzanakopoulos estimates that we will soon have an agreement I estimate that we will soon have a comprehensive agreement, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said in an interview with Kontra Channel late on Wednesday. As he said, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to visit Bejing and have a series of meetings with the president and the prime minister of China as well as other leaders on the sidelines of the forum on the Silk Road to promote investments and the Greek debt issue. Tzanakopoulos stated that the elections will be held at the end of the four-year term adding that this government will take the country out of the supervision and will struggle to ensure the best possible living conditions for pensioners. Moreover, he added: "We have a very positive climate, as Germany and the IMF found a modus vivendi in late February and I think we will soon have an agreement." [02] EU Commission vice-president Ansip pays visit to Athens Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip is paying a visit to Athens on Thursday. At 10.00, he will address the Greek Parliament on Digital Opportunities - Digital Single Market for Europe. At 12.10, he will hold a press conference at the European Commission's offices in Athens and will have meetings with Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas (14.00) and Administrative Reconstruction Minister Olga Gerovassili (15.30). At 20.00, he will be a keynote speaker at a conference for Digital Conference organised by Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV). [03] Important agreements between Greece and China during PM Tsipras' visit to Bejing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' second visit to China in less than a year is rather significant, Secretary General for International Economic Relations George Tsipras said in statements to the Athens Macedonian News Agency (ANA) on Thursday. "The prime minister will have important meetings and agreements," he stressed. He explained that the prime minister will meet with the president and the prime minister of China while the Economy and Development Minister will sign a cooperation memorandum with NDRC, the committee of Chinese Investments abroad. He also integrated the Chinese investments in Greece and the development of bilateral economic relations in the government's plans for extroversion and therefore the national and productive reconstruction. At the same time, he expressed the Greek side's expectation "to clearly define a framework for cooperation on financing, tourism and Greek exports to China" and stressed that "we aim at a mutually beneficial cooperation based on the priorities of both sides."