Greek Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and his Turkish counterpart Ertugrul Gunay signed on Friday in Athens a joint declaration for enhanced bilateral cooperation in culture the tourism, focusing on Chinese visitors.

The agreement ratified during the first meeting of the High- Level Greek-Turkish Council for Strategic Partnership in the presence of the prime ministers of Greece and Turkey, George Papandreou and Rejep Tayip Erdogan, promotes first of all joint Greek-Turkish tourism packages to third countries, such as China.

In this framework, a delegation of Chinese officials is expected to visit Turkey and Greece, which faces a severe economic crisis.

The crisis has recently affected its tourism industry, a vital source of revenues for Greece’s national economy.

Athens and Ankara will also seek closer collaboration on cultural tourism, by organizing a forum on tourism this autumn and will exchange know-how and experiences regarding the protection of cultural treasures and against the illegal trade of antiquities.

The two sides have also agreed to host festivals promoting the cinematography, theater, dancing, classical music, literature and various forms of Arts.