On 6 October 2014 FT published an article on Chinese investments in Greece. According to correspondent Kerin Hope, China sees Greece as a pivotal commercial gateway to southern Europe. China is reassessing Greece and its infrastructure that must be sold as part of its bailout deal with the EU and International Monetary Fund. A consortium formed by Friedman Pacific Asset Management and Shenzhen International Airport Group, for instance, is a potential bidder for the Greek state’s majority holding in Athens International Airport.
Additionally, China’s State Construction Engineering Corporation will possibly to participate later this year in an international tender to build and operate a new €800m airport in Crete. Moreover, state-owned Fujian Shipbuilding, has expressed interest in another in Eleusis Shipyards. As Kerin Hope writes, COSCO remains the showcase investments while the port of Piraeus can develop into a logistics hub for Central Europe.