The President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping has said China and Greece will "deepen" their existing ties in an article written for a Sunday newspaper ahead of his visit to Athens.

Xi's three-day official tour will kick off with his arrival in the Greece capital on Sunday where he is due to hold extensive talks with his counterpart President Prokopios Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

In an article in the Sunday edition of the Kathimerini newspaper, Xi wrote: "We have to constantly upgrade our practical co-operation in all areas and sectors, deepening into the existing ones and expanding the scale of investments, with the project in Piraeus to be 'the head of the dragon'.

"China and Greece have to be taught by the deep wisdom of their ancient civilizations, to assume the historical responsibilities of the ancient countries and to promote together the building of a new type of international relations based on respect, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation, in order to contribute a universal human community with a common future."

The Chinese president met the Greek premier earlier this week after Mitsotakis visited Shanghai for the China International Import Expo.

Xi is expected to visit Piraeus – the Mediterranean Sea port managed by China's state-owned COSCO. He will also attend the opening of a new Bank of China branch in Athens and tour historical sites including the Acropolis.

It's part of a charm offensive in Europe, touring France, Italy and Monaco earlier this year and hosting French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to China this week.