As one accustomed to preserving records of an ancient civilization, veteran Greek librarian Filippos Tsimpoglou is well aware of the importance of a visit from a top representative of another long-standing civilization - China.

Tsimpoglou, 57, general director of the National Library of Greece in Athens, said he is sure the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will bring the "two civilizations" closer.

It is also an honor, he said, to have been chosen to welcome the premier's wife, Cheng Hong, a professor of English, on Friday to the magnificent library building, which was constructed in 1832 and holds a mass of documents on the ancient country.