Greece and China agreed on Wednesday to take a series of actions aimed to boosting bilateral tourism relations, starting with finalizing a date on holding a joint Greek-China commission on tourism in October.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Shao Qiwei, director of China's National Tourism Administration and Greek Tourism Development Minister Fani Palli Petralia in Athens. The two ministers agreed that Greece would host Chinese journalists and tourism school students from China during the summer.

Shao Qiwei said Greece will be the honored country in Beijing international tourism exhibition in June 21-23, with China organizing a Greek cultural year in 2007.

To attract more Chinese tourists to visit Greece, the Chinese minister said that the travel agencies between China and Greece will strengthen their cooperation. He hopes that Chinese tourists could watch Chinese TV program during their stay in Greek hotels.

Speaking to reporters, Shao pointed to the very good cooperation between the two parties and noted that each meeting resulted in something very important.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2007)