China's visa-free policy strengthens exchanges with Greece, sparks tourism surge

China's visa-free policy for Greece has boosted tourism and strengthened economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, from October 15, 2024 to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Slovenia do not need a visa to enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes for up to 15 days.

These changes have given rise to more direct flights between Athens and Beijing, with Air China ramping up its route to five flights a week and boosting seat capacity by 128 percent this year. 

Kostas Mathiopoulos, a kung fu instructor who has traveled to China numerous times, notes that his airport experience now feels less frustrating than before.

"I've been traveling to China every year since 1996. I have to say, this is the first time it's been this easy—no paperwork for the visa and no need to spend money on one," he said.

Mathiopoulos visits China annually for training and seminars, and with the new visa rules, he plans to travel more frequently.

"Even though the visa is only for two weeks at a time, it still allows me to travel more often throughout the year, not just once. This way, I can maintain a closer connection with my sensei and bring more value to my students back in Greece," said Mathiopoulos.

This initiative is expected to boost tourism and foster deeper business and cultural connections, paving the way for lasting relations.

"Our priority has been to strengthen ties with the People's Republic of China within a strategic framework, not sporadically. I believe Sino-Greek relations are currently at their best. However, local government relations, particularly between regions and Chinese provinces, have seen some stagnation. The key issue was the lack of a broad strategic plan, which limited long-term prospects. This new initiative offers an opportunity to enhance relations, not just between governments, but also between people, cultures, and businesses," said Nikos Chardalias, the governor of Attica, the Greek administrative region that encompasses Athens.

China's visa-free policy strengthens exchanges with Greece, sparks tourism surge

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.

The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest