Greek and Chinese authors and publishing houses this week signed a cultural exchange agreement to promote book publications in both languages.

We hope that through the books and our presence at the Shanghai Expo, Chinese people will learn more about Greek culture.

Two children’s books will be published according to the agreement.

One is written by a Greek author and illustrated by a Chinese illustrator. The other is written by a Chinese author and illustrated by a Greek illustrator.

The two books will be published simultaneously in Greece and China.

Giorgos Poussaios, general secretary for Tourism of Greece, said Greece hopes to enhance cooperation in culture, tourism and other areas of common interest with China.

He hailed the cultural exchange agreement as an important step towards the goal.

“We hope that through the books and our presence at the Shanghai Expo, Chinese people will learn more about Greek culture,” Poussaios said.

“We invite all Chinese to visit Greece,” he added.

The agreement is part of China’s national reading program, which introduces foreign books to Chinese children, parents and teachers.

The two countries have intensified cultural exchange in literature in recent years.

China was the featured country at the 7th Thessaloniki Book Fair, a major book event in Greece, in 2010, while Greece was the featured country at the Beijing International Book Fair in 2008.