Sino-Greek collaboration important to Greek's change into significant global player: Greek PM

Greece is no longer Europe's "black sheep" but a significant global player, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday during an interview with local television.

The Sino-Greek strategic cooperation holds an important part in this transformation as China's Belt and Road Initiative aligns with Greece's strategy to make the best use of its privileged geopolitical position, the Greek prime minister told SKAI TV a few days after his visit to China.

A decade ago, Greek then Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis paved a path of collaboration regarding the Sino-Greek ties which has evolved into an open highway, he noted, pointing to Chinese landmark investments in Piraeus port and cooperation in other fields.

The dialogues with China, as well as Russia, during last year's most difficult period of negotiations with international lenders for financial supports, has helped Greece reach a positive outcome, he said.

The Greek prime minister defended the third bailout Greece eventually signed with its creditors as the best solution to keep the country afloat, saying it offers Greek people the prospect to exit the debt crisis and restore growth.

The transition to normalcy will be gradual and the suffering of several Greeks will not end overnight, however, without the painful compromise, the alternative would be catastrophic, Tsipras said.

The Greek leader underlined that he never sought a Grexit.

Regarding the future, he appeared confident that Greece will soon exit the crisis through bold reforms in all sectors.

Concerning constitutional reform, he did not rule out a referendum and said the direct election of the president from the people is a thought that has "matured." Endit