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Shipowners, ports and diplomats: the political economy of Greece’s relations with China

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Abstract

The paper analyses Greece’s relations with China and highlights the crucial role of specific business interests in strengthening bilateral ties. Greek–Chinese political contacts, as well as trade, investment and touristic flows, have significantly increased in the last decade. The concession of the Piraeus port to the Chinese company COSCO was the major turning point for the relationship. The paper notes a strong influence of shipowning interests in Greece’s foreign policy decision-making system which has conditioned the development of Greek–Chinese relations.

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Notes

  1. Dimitris Katsoudas, Former General Secretary for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece, 22 May 2013, Athens, Greece, (Interview).

  2. Kampanis M., Former Greek Ambassador to Beijing, 5 May 2011, Athens, Greece, (Interview).

  3. China Daily, 22 May 2007.

  4. Xinhuanet, 25 February 2011.

  5. Kampanis M., Former Greek Ambassador to Beijing, 5 May 2011, Athens, Greece, (Interview).

  6. Greek businessman that wanted to remain anonymous, 8 December 2012, Thessaloniki, Greece, (Interview).

  7. Former Deputy Minister of Karamanlis government (2004–2009), 11 December 2012, Corinth, Greece, (Interview). Name withheld at her own request.

  8. Marinews, 9 April 2006.

  9. Greek Shipping News, 9 December 2007.

  10. Ethnos, 27 July 2006.

  11. Psaraftis H., Former CEO of the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) (1996 to 2002), Professor, National Technical University of Athens, 6 December 2012, Athens, Greece, (Interview).

  12. Pallis A., Former Secretary General for Ports and Port Policy [2011–2012], Assistant Professor, University of Aegean, 5 December 2012, Athens, Greece, (Interview).

  13. Cited in The Economist 2008.

  14. Pallis A., Former Secretary General for Ports and Port Policy [2011–2012], Assistant Professor, University of Aegean, 5 December 2012, Athens, Greece, (Interview).

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Part of the research for this article has been funded from the European Commission, Jean Monnet Chair on EU Relations with the Less Developed World.

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  1. Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese, Dervenakion 47 & Adimantou, Corinth, 201 00, Greece

    Asteris Huliaras & Sotiris Petropoulos

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  1. Asteris Huliaras
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  2. Sotiris Petropoulos
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Correspondence to Sotiris Petropoulos.

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Huliaras, A., Petropoulos, S. Shipowners, ports and diplomats: the political economy of Greece’s relations with China. Asia Eur J 12, 215–230 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-013-0367-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-013-0367-1

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