REFILE-China pledges Greek bond buy at later stage - paper

(Refiles to correct date)

ATHENS Oct 2 (Reuters) - China has given Greece assurances it would buy government bonds once the country returns to markets, Greek daily Imerisia reported on Saturday without quoting any sources, ahead of the Chinese premier's visit to Athens.

A finance ministry official declined to comment.

"According to information, there is an agreement in principle to strongly support Greek bonds once the country decides to return to markets," the newspaper wrote.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrives in Greece on Saturday for a two-day visit. [ID:nLDE6901M3]

Greece, which is funded by a 110-billion euro EU/IMF bailout, has said it wants to return to markets sometime next year although the EU/IMF package allows it to wait until 2012.

One Greek official told Reuters this week bonds were not on the agenda of the Chinese premier's visit and it was up to top officials to decide whether to discuss this or not. (Reporting by Harry Papachristou and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Sugita Katyal)