Pavlopoulos

Tensions in Greek-Turkish relations may influence Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' choice for President of the Republic by selecting a politician, instead of a non-political figure, sources close to the premier have said.
The final choice of candidate is expected to be announced near the end of January 2020.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Sunday underlined the importance of defending democracy and the freedom of the press at an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of Kathimerini newspaper. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, seen here with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (right), has backed Greece's efforts to retrieve the Parthenon Marbles, held by the British Museum in London for the past 200 years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed solidarity with Greece on the issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles during his visit to the Acropolis Museum on Tuesday morning, which wrapped up his official two-day visit to Athens.

Streets around Athens' main Syntagma square, the Hilton hotel and the Acropolis Hill will be closed off to traffic on Tuesday morning, to facilitate Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Acropolis Museum, authorities said.

Xi, who is on an official two-day visit to Athens, will be accompanied by Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (r) signs a guest book in the presence of his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos (l) before attending an official dinner at the Presidential Mansion in Athens, Monday. The Chinese President is paying a two-day official visit to Greece. [EPA]

Greece and China have signed a joint statement on Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership it was announced Monday.
The announcement came as Chinese President Xi Jinping paid an official visit to Athens during which he met with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Below is the full statement.

In an exclusive article for Kathimerini on the occasion of his official visit to Athens, which started Sunday and will conclude on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping has underlined the need to boost cooperation between Athens and Beijing on all levels.

The committee which will plan and oversee preparations to mark the bicentenary of the 19th-century revolt against Ottoman Turkey that led to the creation of the modern Greek state was officially launched Thursday with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis heralding the upcoming events as an opportunity to reframe Greeks' "national self-understanding."

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis opened on Thursday the proceedings of a committee that will oversee preparations to mark the bicentenary of the 19th-century Greek revolt against Ottoman Turkey that led to the creation of the modern state, saying the event will be "an opportunity for reflection" and to "become re-acquainted" with Greek history and identity.