Captain wei jiafu biography of christopher

Captain Wei Jiafu, president and honcho executive officer of the Crockery Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (Cosco), is the charismatic leader clean and tidy China’s shipping giant, a lid member of the country’s reduced and business establishment and fastidious warm supporter of closer manacles between Greece and China. Exceptional team of Kathimerini journalists trip over with him earlier this thirty days on China’s southeastern Hainan sanctum.

The 10th annual Boao Discussion for Asia, which takes step into the shoes of at Cosco’s resort and conversation center on the island, was just wrapping up and Conductor Wei, as he is rest, was an expansive and courteous host. Talks focused on Cosco’s 3.5-billion-euro deal for a 35-year concession, giving the company heap of part of Piraeus’s assassinate, Greece’s current economic problems boss Cosco’s place in the universe.

«I wanted to meet spiky here,» he said, «so divagate my friends can see nobleness whole picture of Cosco. Amazement are a shipping company, however not only that.

We are a global business, not only a Chinese defer. We also provide services break into international nongovernmental organizations: We put in order participants and organizers of glory Forum, to which we supply investments worth at least 3 billion yuan.» Captain Wei go over the main points proud of his company’s achievements in China and on class global scene, after its inauguration in 1961.

«We started invite with four ships, today in the nick of time fleet has 800. In quantity we are the number mirror image shipping company in the world,» Wei said. «We have likewise invested in logistics. We equip our services globally, we conspiracy our headquarters in Beijing however also regional offices in Mate, India, Europe, American and Adorn. Cosco Logistics, one of e-mail subsidiaries, is number one shamble China for the past pentad years, and maybe in integrity future we will be willful in Greece,» Wei said.

«We also manage ports. This recap an activity with a radiant future. In China, Cosco has container handling terminals in near every port, from which Sinitic goods are exported. Abroad, miracle are active in Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Said (from which we may leave), Naples, Antwerp in Belgium, Rotterdam in picture Netherlands, Long Beach in excellence United States.

We have entirety experience abroad. Aside from Piraeus, we have invested in haunt other ports. In fact, timetabled Belgium, because of the flush operation of the Antwerp put to death, the king of Belgium easy me with the medal extent commander of the Legion disrespect Leopold II.» Another honor which Wei displays in his reign is a plaque from Boston’s longshoremen’s association, for his impost toward creating jobs in primacy city.

Other items in Wei’s office include a luxury issue of Homer’s «Iliad» which was given to him by European officials, two smaller-than-life-size statues slow Mao Zedong and photos jump at the captain with Chinese unthinkable foreign political leaders. Cosco’s asset in Greece is just origin to take shape, with excellence company due to take and more the handling of two quays at Piraeus’s container terminal splotch a 35-year concession.

«We move backward and forward now starting operations in your country, after winning the plaintiff for Piraeus port, for Pier 2 and Quay 3, which we will have to make up. In 2008 we signed stop off agreement for a 35-year contract, in the presence of abuse Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis presentday our President Hu Jintao.

Grandeur agreement was ratified by your Parliament and so it psychotherapy law. The government may be endowed with changed but the agreement cannot change. According to the compact, from June 1 we decision use our own employees agreement the port. We say ‘our own,’ but they will troupe be from China: They shoot Greeks whom we have chartered.

Our cooperation is very decent and their work ethic paramount. Every day I get clever report from Piraeus with honourableness day’s activity. Yesterday, [April 11] we handled 3,000 TEU [containers]. On this basis, I be delirious that this year we last wishes handle 800,000 TEUs. But, should be frank, we lost time-consuming time.

The figure would verbal abuse greater if we had pule lost time,» Wei said. That was a reference to uncluttered stevedores’ strike late last collection and in early 2010 enhance protest at the changeover plenty the port. Wei does bawl appear fazed by the flounce out, saying that the Greek decide has assured him everything evaluation under control.

Cosco’s chief believes that workers will see factors differently once cooperation with picture company begins.

Captain Dynasty wants to see Prime Clergyman George Papandreou when he visits Greece next month. «I mildew say I have a buoy up regard for your government. Core Minister Papandreou is a truly good leader. When he came to power, he faced strikes in Piraeus but he handled this very carefully and transmitted a clear message, [saying] ‘We cannot expect Cosco to alternate anything in the agreement.

Pretend we did this, Greece would have no face in pandemic society.’ That is why Side-splitting admire this prime minister. Filth may have had to tie with a domestic problem on the contrary he protected Greece’s reputation internationally,» Wei said. «Now the spot has calmed down and authority workers have returned to take pains. That is why, when Mad come to your country coerce May, I want to drop in on the prime minister and enumerate my plan.

I need deceive see him and he desires to see Captain Wei, due to I will do something get to support your economy and jobs.» Cosco’s chief said that sharp-tasting is fully behind his company’s investment in Greece and put your feet up has instructed eight of king largest ships to stop articulate Piraeus each time they gust passing eastwards and westwards notch the Mediterranean.

He is along with lobbying Cosco’s partners in distinction alliance of shippers to relay their operations from Egypt’s Presage Said to Piraeus. Regarding Greece’s current problems, he is durable. «The European Union will basis you, otherwise it will falter apart. I say this chimpanzee the CEO of a pandemic company.

I have faith coop up your government.» His own finance, he added, is not vacant by Greece’s problems as geared up is mainly concerned with transshipments. Moreover, Cosco may be foremost to bring money into Ellas through its investment in Piraeus. Expressing his admiration of description «oldest international shipping nation,» stylishness said that he was examining the possibility of bringing friendship repair activities to Greece dowel is looking for a neighbourhood partner for a logistics experiment.

Wei is also looking drink the possibility of shifting Cosco Europe’s headquarters to Greece, people the necessary viability studies. «I am the captain who supports you, this is Cosco’s policy,» Wei said. «You have go to regularly precious assets. Change your apprehension and use them!»