The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it “knows nothing” about any offer for financial aid towards Greece, in response to a statement by Alternate Minister of European Affairs Nikos Hountis that China offered help, despite the Greek government not making a request.
According to the Reuters report, Mr. Hountis made the statement on a Greek radio station, while the Minister of National Defense Panos Kammenos also mentioned that the Greek government would seek out help from China, among others, should it be unable to come to an agreement with the Eurozone.
Mr. Hountis reportedly asserted that “there have been proposals, offers I would say, from Russia, recently after the election, for economic support as well as from China, regarding help, investment possibilities”.
The spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying responded that “we are willing to keep deepening cooperation and exchanges in all areas with the new Greek government on the basis of the principle of mutual respect and win-win to push the continued development of Sino-Greek ties” and added “I know nothing” about any offers for aid.
Sources from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs have clarified that Mr. Hountis’ comments specifically referred to Sino-Greek investment relations.
