Yiannis Moralis (3rd L), mayor of Piraeus, Kostas Katsafados (3rd R), Greek deputy minister of maritime affairs and insular policy, and Piraeus Port Authority S.A. Chairman Yu Zenggang (2nd R) pose for a photo after a meeting at the Mayor's Office in Piraeus, Greece, on March 31, 2021. Greece-based Piraeus Port Authority S.A. (PPA), a member of China's COSCO Shipping group, announced on Wednesday the donation of a modern park to the local community. The new recreation area of about 8,000 square meters will be constructed close to the cruise terminal and will include a model playground, a bike path and a parking lot, said a press release issued jointly by PPA and the City of Piraeus. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)
ATHENS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Greece-based Piraeus Port Authority S.A. (PPA), a member of China's COSCO Shipping group, announced on Wednesday the donation of a modern park to the local community.
The new recreation area of about 8,000 square meters will be constructed close to the cruise terminal and will include a model playground, a bike path and a parking lot, said a press release issued jointly by PPA and the City of Piraeus.
PPA managers presented the plans of the project to Yiannis Moralis, mayor of Piraeus, and Kostas Katsafados, deputy minister of maritime affairs and insular policy.
The park will be open to all citizens. Construction will cost around 1.5 million euros (1.76 million U.S. dollars) and will be covered entirely by the Chinese investors.
Greek officials warmly welcomed the announcement and said that all necessary permits will be issued swiftly so that the project can be delivered as soon as possible to the City of Piraeus.
"It is a day of joy for Piraeus, a beautiful day," Moralis said. "This is another step that shows what we can achieve when we have good cooperation. I am optimistic that we will have more such actions and collaborations with the port's administration."
"I sincerely hope the park will be finished as early as possible and the citizens of Piraeus can enjoy a healthier and happier life with the park," PPA S.A. Chairman Yu Zenggang said. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars)
China's COSCO Shipping acquired a majority stake in PPA in 2016 after an international tender. The group's subsidiary, Piraeus Container Terminal S.A. (PCT), manages the port's container terminal since 2009.
The image of Greece's largest port has changed in recent years through upgrades and expansion work. Piraeus is now the largest port in the Mediterranean in terms of container traffic, benefiting the local economy and people. Enditem
