ATHENS, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov started an official three-day visit to Greece on Tuesday, mainly aimed at promoting economic cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

    He was given a red-carpet welcome by his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias. The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.

    "We both agree that there is still space for advancing the bilateral economic ties especially in the energy field and that it is possible to inaugurate the new border route at Komotini- Makasaby the end of 2010," said Papoulias.

    Thanking his host for the hospitality, the Bulgarian president added that Greeks are among the top investors in his country and tourism between the two neighbors flourishes.

    He expressed his hope to accomplish soon the construction of a gas pipeline link between southern Bulgaria and northern Greece. The pipeline will enable Bulgaria to import natural gas, originally transferred from the Caspian Sea region, in a bid to reduce dependency on Russian supplies.

    "We realized how important that is during the latest energy crisis," Parvanov said.

    Parvanov is accompanied by a delegation of Bulgarian entrepreneurs during his Athens visit.