(BEIJING, September 18) -- Director of Olympic Torch Relay Center Zhang Ming held talks Monday with President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) Minos Kyriakou in Athens, regarding the lighting of the Olympic flame. The two signed a cooperation agreement following the talks, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kyriakou said the Olympic fire for Beijing 2008 will be lit in Olympia on March 25, 2008 and will be carried across the nation by 646 Greek torch bearers. The flame will arrive at the Panathenian Stadium on March 30 for the handover ceremony to the host city Beijing.

Zhang said the flame will reach Beijing on March 31, where a grand reception ceremony will be held.

The relay will last 130 days and travel 137,000 kilometers, the longest distance ever. One of the highlights of this relay will be the ascent of the Olympic Flame to the highest peak in the world, Mt. Qomolangma (Everest).