Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-13 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Tsipras: Greece is very close to exiting the crisis [02] Forthnet and ZTE sign 500 mln euro agreement [03] Important agreements signed between Greece and China --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Tsipras: Greece is very close to exiting the crisis Greece is very close to the final exit from the crisis and the government's aim is fair and sustainable development, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday during a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Tsipras said that serious steps have been taken over the last year in the further development of relations between Greece and China and noted that these relations have solid foundations that are the cultures of the two countries. For Greece, he pointed out that it plays a strategic role in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and is a strategic partner of China. The meeting was attended by Foreign Ministers Nikos Kotzias, Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas, Deputy Economy Minister Stergios Pitsiorlas and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Economic Relations Giorgos Tsipras. [02] Forthnet and ZTE sign 500 mln euro agreement The deal between Forthnet and the Chinese company ZTE, signed in Beijing in the presence of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Digital Policy Minister Nikos Pappas, brings Greece to the 21st century, the chairman of Forthnet's board of directors Panos Papadopoulos said on Saturday in statements to the Athens Macedonian News Agency (ANA). This is a huge deal, Papadopoulos said. "The discussions started last year and it took us about a year to conclude them and get to sign the agreement today. ZTE is Forthnet's technology partner and its role is important as it is a global company that opens the 21st Century telecommunication road for Greece." The agreement concerns an investment of 500 million euros. 350 million euros of this amount will be invested over the next three years. [03] Important agreements signed between Greece and China Agreements between Greece and China on energy, infrastructure and telecommunications signed in Beijing will begin to "run" directly, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Saturday in his speech at the 2nd Greek-Chinese Cities Forum, while making proposals for expanding cooperation on culture, tourism, education, agricultural and industrial production. The prime minister referred to his meeting with the President of China and their agreement to work together in order to make Piraeus the largest, the strongest, the most important port of the Mediterranean, and underlined: "I believe it is of paramount importance to highlight the role of the city of Piraeus as a basic hub of the silk road and one of the most critical stations of world trade, and in this direction the Municipality of Piraeus has a primary and essential role to play." He also said that the direct connection between Athens and Beijing as of September will increase the number of Chinese tourists in Greece: In the context of the further development of cooperation between Greece and China in all areas, Tsipras suggested: - The creation of a large Chinese culture park in Greece and a large Greek culture park in China. - Promoting a student exchange programme, under the auspices of the Municipalities, with the cooperation of schools and universities and the government's assistance. - The cooperation of Municipalities through the exchange of missions, organization of joint cultural events and cooperation in the fields of tourism, agricultural and industrial production. - Cooperation between Universities. The prime minister pointed out that 2017 is a year of cultural exchanges between Greece and China and China will be the honored country at the Thessaloniki International Fair in September.