Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou(R Front) shakes hands with his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borissov Gabrovdol (L Front) at the opening ceremony of the Thermes-Zlatograd border crossing in Zlatograd , Bulgaria, on Jan. 15, 2010. The Thermes-Zlatograd border crossing opened at the Greek-Bulgarian frontier on Friday. (Xinhua/Bulgarian News Agency) Photo Gallery>>>

    SOFIA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria and Greece on Friday opened a new border crossing on the Bulgarian-Greek border at Zlatograd-Xanthi.

    The new crossing, the fourth between the two countries, opens the shortest link between the central part of Bulgaria and the Aegian region.

    "The road Zlatograd-Xanthi will connect the Bulgarian ski resort Pamporovo to the Greek beaches and will give new prospectives for bilateral collaboration in trade and tourism," visiting Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said when inaugurating the crossing with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (R Front) and his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borissov Gabrovdol (L Front) cut the ribbon at an opening ceremony of the Thermes-Zlatograd border crossing in Zlatograd , Bulgaria, on Jan. 15, 2010.(Xinhua/Bulgarian News Agency) Photo Gallery>>>

    It is also to facilite the movement of Bulgarians who work in Greece in summer time.

    The road between Zlatograd and Xanthi is designed for cars and small buses, and the new crossing could serve 700,000 people annually and its capacity is expected to grow.

    Bulgaria and Greece share a border of 493 km. Another border crossing at Ivaylovgrad-Kyprinos is also planned to open in 2010.