Cosco chairman and CEO Wei Jiafu also said that local dockworkers would be employed in the expansion of container facilities at the main Greek port of Piraeus to counter local union fears of a big influx of foreign labour.

"We have promised the Greek president that we will not bring any Chinese dockworkers. We will hire local dockworkers," Wei, who is on a five-day visit, told a news conference after meetings with Greek officials and businessmen.

"Until now we have hired 300 local dockworkers, and we believe we will hire more in the future," he said through a translator.

Last year, Greece granted Cosco a 35-year concession on the two main container terminals at Piraeus in a deal for a guaranteed premium of 3.4 billion euros (four billion dollars).

Fearing mass layoffs, Greek dockworkers last autumn staged a prolonged strike to oppose the Chinese investment.

Civil servants and private employees have regularly held more strikes in recent months against government austerity cuts to avert a debt crisis.

In his meeting with President Carolos Papoulias, Wei said the Greek head of state had personally guaranteed that the port project would not be impeded.

"The Greek president has promised that Cosco's project in Greece will not meet any obstacle, and that he will personally monitor closely and attach great attention," Wei said.

"This is the official position of the Greek government. Truly the Greek government has given major backing to Cosco, and for this we are very happy."

Wei is scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou later on Friday before concluding his visit to Athens.

earlier related report
Australia invites Chinese firms to mining tax talks
Sydney (AFP) May 21, 2010 - Australia has invited Chinese companies to take part in talks on a proposed tax on so-called "super profits" of the Asian-driven mining boom, after Beijing expressed concern about the levy.

Trade Minister Simon Crean said the government was consulting mining companies on the implementation of and transition to the tax -- but that the level at which it kicks in and the 40 percent rate would not change.

"Any other company, if it thinks it is going to be affected by this, has the opportunity to make submissions to the panel," Crean told Sky News on Thursday.

"We don't discriminate about the source of the company."

The proposed tax has angered mining companies which have placed billions of dollars worth of projects on hold or under review as a result and have warned that it will lead to job losses and investment going offshore.

Crean said Beijing had expressed concern that the tax would affect the price of commodities such as iron ore -- a key ingredient used in steel-making and critical to China's economic development.

But they had not indicated it would hurt Chinese investment in Australia or force them to suspend projects, he said.

"But what they have raised it with us for, is to get greater clarification, greater understanding about how this is going to apply. Because their concern isn't that Australia shouldn't get the return for its resources, their fundamental concern is about price," he said.

Crean, who is on a visit to China, said it had been made "absolutely clear" to Australian companies that the 40 percent rate would not change, nor would the level at which the company would be judged to be earning "super profits".

The new tax is essentially set to kick in when a company's profits pass six percent of current earnings after rebates for some expenses are deducted -- a figure the mining industry has blasted as far too low.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stood by the tax Friday, saying he believed the government had "this policy basically right" and its introduction would fund the lowering of the company tax rate.

"Can I say that we're going to have a lot of people out there from various mining industries proclaiming doom, gloom and despair in the midst of a consultation process," Rudd told reporters.

"Guess what, a lot of those mining companies don't want to pay any more tax."

He said talks between the government and miners were underway and would take some time given about 100 companies were meeting with the panel.

Rio's managing director for Australia David Peever met the government on Thursday and described the consultations as disappointing and too narrow.

"The panel's hands are tied because we are unable to discuss many of the substantive issues that have prompted concerns right across the sector," Peever said.

BHP met the government on Friday and emerged saying the tax would have the "unintended effect of dramatically slowing investment in Australia and putting the future prosperity and employment prospects of all Australians at risk."

The furore over the tax, first announced on May 2, has coincided with a share market slide and the Australian dollar falling steeply, but the government has dismissed speculation the items are linked.

The mining sector is the country's most important industry, with voracious demand for raw materials from Asia helping the economy outrun the global downturn and accounting for 44.8 percent of total exports in 2008-2009.

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