Poorer social classes will suffer most from the austerity measures taken by the Greek government in response to the debt crisis, according to Dimitrios Avramopoulos, leader of the center-right New Democracy Party of Greece.

Dimitrios Avramopoulos, leader of the New Democracy Party of Greece [Zhang Ming'ai/China.org.cn]

In an exclusive interview with China.org.cn on May 25, Avramopoulos said pensioners, the working class, and public sector employees will be most affected by the measures.

"We must do our best to create an umbrella of protection for our citizens. We believe that some of these measures could have been avoided," he said.

According to Avramopoulos, the Greek welfare system was not the sole cause of the debt crisis; widespread speculation on the Euro played a major part.

"We are determined to proceed with deep reforms to regulate our economy and to change the whole system," he said, adding that "we are going to feel the repercussions and consequences of these measures."

But Avramopoulos is optimistic about the future, saying: "The effort made by the European Union in cooperation with Greece will lead us out of this crisis. We believe that, very soon, the Greek economy, which has many positive characteristics, will stand up again."

When asked whether the 110 billion Euro bailout package is adequate, he said: "In real money terms it is not enough. But the IMF, European Union and European Bank have created a mechanism of support. We have received the first installment. And there will be more to come in the future."

He urged other countries to draw lessons from Greece, saying that what Greece is going through now is not the first, and will not be the last in history.

Avramopoulos said President Hu Jintao's recent statement of support for Greece was highly appreciated by the Greek people.

Avramopoulos was in Beijing for the first China-Europe High-Level Political Party Forum, initiated by the Communist Party of China (CPC). This is his twelfth visit to China.

He expressed his thanks to the CPC for holding the gathering and enabling European parties to exchange views with the CPC.