国内英语新闻:Xinhua becomes int'l media partner of Greece's largest trade fair

ATHENS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China's state news agency Xinhua News Agency on Thursday became an international media partner of Greece's national exhibition agency HELEXPO (the National Institution for the Organisation of Exhibitions, Congresses and Cultural Events), which has been organizing Greece's largest trade fair Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) since 1926.

According to an agreement signed by representatives of the two parties, Xinhua will file text, photo and other forms of stories on TIF and other major events of HELEXPO according to Xinhua's professional criterion while HELEXPO will facilitate Xinhua's work.

China is the honored country for TIF 2017, after it attended TIF in 1998 as the first honored country in the exhibition's history.

Witnessing the signing ceremony, Michalis Psilos, president and general director of Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency (AMNA) said this agreement will enhance cooperation between the two ancient civilizations in trade, media, culture and many other sectors.

Usually held in September, TIF is Greece's largest annual trade fair and has great importance in southeastern Europe. It has been customary for Greece's prime minister to set out the government's policies for each coming year in a speech at the annual TIF, giving political significance in addition to its commercial importance.