Mark Herz: This is GBH's Morning Edition. Boston is partnered with about a dozen cities and other countries around the world, in what is called the Sister Cities Program. One of the latest partnerships that is developing is with Athens, Greece. Earlier this year, Mayor Haris Doukas was in Boston to sign a letter of intent with Mayor Michelle Wu to take that relationship to the next level.

Joining us now to talk about what that partnership is all about, is local Greek Consul General Symeon Tegos. Good morning, Consul.

Symeon Tegos: Good morning Mark.

Herz: So, this is both a cultural and economic partnership. Tell us more about it.

Tegos: The idea is to formalize relations that already exist and it really goes back, I would dare to say, at least two centuries in a way. So having in mind that Boston is the Athens of America, my community, our people are very proud to see this taking, let’s say, a bit more formal step. We're not there yet, I know the two teams are working very hard because, yes, those two cities have a lot in common. So we are very happy to see this happening.

Herz: I know two of the issues that might be on the table -- they're interesting -- dealing with rising sea levels and managing ever-increasing tourism. Can you tell us more about both those two issues?

Tegos: Definitely. You know, last year, I mean this year actually, we have around 36 million people visiting Greece and we're still counting. And I know Boston is a center of tourism for the United States, with all its history and beauty. So of course, sustainable tourism is one of the issues, the challenges, we face in common. So climate change in general, it is a problem, it's a global problem, we need global solutions and global answers. So we know that Boston, as an expertise, they've been doing a great job there for many years now. So exchanging know-how, exchanging cultural experience, exchanging answers to challenges is part of the process.

Herz: And you mentioned how the history goes back. You know, the Boston area has been a major destination for Greek immigrants, sure, going back at least to the 19th century. Can you tell us a little bit more of how Greek immigrants have shaped Greater Boston, Massachusetts [in general]?

Tegos: It started maybe [in the] 18th century, we had some people, we know that. Right now we have in broader New England, in Greater New England, around 150,000 people of Greek descent, maybe more depending on how you count them. We're very proud of our communities here because they came here with nothing and then literally they created empires in our view, they did an incredible job.

Everybody knows for example Governor Dukakis, who was an integral part of our community, and contributed immensely in the way Massachusetts looks today. I'm just giving an example, we have incredible people, but what I think is important to realize about our community is that they're everyday present in everything. And I have an example for that, which is the Boston Marathon. The story of the Marathon is an incredible story. It's a Greek story, and the citizen soldier fighting for its freedom, for democracy, for its rights, so you have the same here with the Minutemen. So there are so many stories, incredible stories that my community represents and serves with you and with this city.

Herz: I'm curious, there has been a rising interest for people, sometimes who are digital nomads, sometimes who were going in retirement to, you know, get a longer-term visa in Europe. Are you seeing that at your consul?

Tegos: Yes, we see this and we're happy. Greece is doing a big effort and, you know, in a kind of volatile world, we're a stability island, if I may say that. And we've seen this interest from Americans to work there more, to go there more to visit. They don't need a tourist Visa, but we had a lot of students [who] were interested to go, and there are a lot programs that they can choose from. We have this organization called Study in Greece -- everything is in English. They can go visit. And from students to professionals, Greece offers great opportunities.

Herz: Greek Consul General, Symeon Tegos, thank you so much.

Tegos: Thank you so, so much Mark for having me. It was a pleasure.

Herz: This is GBH.

Boston has about a dozen sister cities around the world. As part of an ongoing series, GBH’s Morning Edition host Mark Herz is taking a look at each of these relationships.

One developing partnership is with Athens, Greece. In April, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas was in Boston to sign a letter of intent with Mayor Michelle Wu. The cities are set to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding, which includes joint goals and actions for collaboration between the two cities.

Symeon Tegos, consul general of Greece in Boston, said the memorandum is a way to formalize the regions’ existing relationship.

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“Right now, we have in broader New England around 150,000 people of Greek descent,” Tegos said. “We’re very proud of our communities here because they came here with nothing and then literally they created empires in our view, and they did an incredible job.”

Greek immigrants have been coming to the U.S. since as early as the 1700s, but cities including Boston became major hotspots for the Greek-American community in the 19th and 20th centuries.

One major figure in the community is former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who Tegos credits for influencing “the way Massachusetts looks today.”

“What I think is important to realize about our community is that they’re everyday present in everything,” Tegos said.

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He added that the Boston Marathon is another key example of Greek influence.

“The story of the Marathon is an incredible story — it’s a Greek story, and the citizen soldier fighting for its freedom, for democracy, for its rights,” Tegos said. “So you have the same [story] here with the Minutemen.”

Along with Greek immigration to Massachusetts, there has also been increasing interest in Americans seeking longer-term visas in Europe, including Greece.

A Bloomberg report earlier this year found a rising number of Americans exploring a move overseas, citing data that showed a 16% increase in the number of Americans hired by European companies between January and April.

Tegos said he is seeing that trend at the Greek Consulate in Boston.

“Greece is doing a big effort and, you know, in a kind of volatile world, we’re a stability island, if I may say that,” he said. “And we’ve seen this interest from Americans to work there more, to go there more to visit ... and from students to professionals, Greece offers great opportunities.”

Tegos said the Athens-Boston sister city agreement is both an economic and cultural partnership.

Some of the shared issues between the cities that are being highlighted include climate change, and ever-increasing tourism.

“This year we have around 36 million people visiting Greece and we’re still counting. And I know Boston is a center of tourism for the United States, with all its history and beauty,” Tegos said.

According to the Boston city website, tens of millions of people typically visit Boston each year to see historic sites, attend cultural or sporting events, participate in conventions, and more.

When it comes to climate change, Tegos said Boston has been doing a “great job for many years” with designing solutions.

“It’s a global problem, we need global solutions and global answers,” he said. “So exchanging know-how, exchanging cultural experience, exchanging answers to challenges is part of the process.”