Shanghai

Tesla reached an accord with Chinese authorities for a plant in Shanghai, its first outside the United States, in 2018

Chinese airline Juneyao marked its significant opening to the Greek tourism market last week with the inauguration of the first direct flight from Shanghai to Athens.

SHANGHAI - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic arrived in China on a four-day visit during which she will meet with Chinese PM Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss political and economic affairs.

While in China, Brnabic will also meet with representatives of Chinese companies.

Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis is to visit China on Thursday, accompanied by the general secretary of international economic relations and openness, Maira Myrogianni.

Agri-food, high technology, construction materials, medical equipment, medicines and cosmetics, biotechnology and health services are sectors of interest for the development of cooperation networks between Greek and Chinese companies, according to the conclusions of a visit by a Chinese delegation to the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA).

Titanium rods and high-tech lathes, which are raw materials that can have civilian, commercial, but also military use, have been seized by customs officers at the port of Piraeus. They were loaded at the port of Shanghai in China and, according to information from a foreign agency that reached the Money Laundering Authority, were destined for Iran.

Greek and Chinese officials and business representatives explored ways of boosting bilateral cooperation in shipping and trade during an investment event held in Piraeus on Tuesday.

The event was organized by Shanghai's Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang Special Area at the premises of Piraeus Port Authority (OLP), a member of China's Cosco Shipping group.

Greek Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Openness Kostas Fragogiannis met on Monday with a visiting 10-member Chinese delegation from the Shanghai Lin-gang Special Area.

With the delegation - which is on a four-day working visit - Fragogiannis discussed matters pertaining to investments and other mutual economic interests.

Greece is ready to welcome back Chinese travelers after China's Covid-19 reopening, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias told Xinhua.

"We are ready to greet our Chinese friends, travelers and tourists, in this new tourist season," he said on Thursday.

The outbreak of the pandemic put the brakes on an impressive increase in Chinese arrivals in Greece in recent years.

Drawing on the direct air links between Athens, the capital of Greece, and Beijing and Shanghai in China, Athens International Airport (AIA) is counting on a return of the number of Chinese arrivals in Greece to pre-pandemic levels soon.