Alexis Tsipras

By Rebecca Christie, Eleni Chrepa & Arne Delfs

European Union leaders will take up the baton on Greece when they gather in Brussels on Thursday after finance ministers from the euro area postponed decisions on the country's future financing until next week.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (photo) has asked his Greek counterpart to support Chinas involvement in Greeces largest port, Beijing said Thursday, after Athens cancelled plans to privatise it.

Government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis stated on Thursday that the word "extension" in relation to Greece's bailout program, that was included in the drafted communiqué after the conclusion of yesterday's Eurogroup meeting, led to the cancellation of the joint announcement.

Greek officials did not agree to sign a joint statement following Wednesday's Eurogroup meeting in Brussels because of the draft's wording, government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis said speaking on several local medial outlets on Thursday.

By Marcus Bensasson

The root of Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis's desperation for debt relief will be laid bare in the coming days.

By Rebecca Christie, Eleni Chrepa & Arne Delfs

Euro-area governments left tough decisions on the future of Greece's bailout for next week, after talks failed to bridge differences over the aid program that the Greek government blames for economic hardship.

The euro weakened Thursday after talks between Greece and its European creditors on restructuring the country's bailout broke up without an agreement, with talks set to go down to the wire next week.

In Tokyo, the common currency bought $1.1311 and 136.05 yen, down from $1.1332 and 136.37 yen in New York where it had strengthened on hopes for a breakthrough in Europe.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is on Thursday due to take part in his first European Union leaders? summit, where he is expected to set out his government?s proposals for a bridging agreement with the eurozone a day after Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis did so at the Eurogroup in Brussels.

No Tsipras-Merkel meeting is scheduled on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, although the Greek PM will meet with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Europarliament President Martin Schulz.

Greece?s government on Wednesday said it was sticking to plans to halt the sale of its two biggest ports, Piraeus and Thessaloniki, rebuffing reports it was having second thoughts.