Barack Obama lands in Athens on final European trip as president

Attica: US President Barack Obama arrived in Athens on Tuesday, the first stop on a final foreign trip that will aim to reassure worried Europeans following Donald Trump`s surprise presidential election victory.

Opening a farewell visit to Europe, Obama is to visit the Parthenon, deliver a speech on the challenges of globalisation and meet Greek leaders before heading to Germany on Wednesday.

The 44th president will conclude his trip with a stop in Peru for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). Among the leaders he is expected to meet there is President Xi Jinping of China.

Greek leaders are anxious for a new US pledge to help in alleviating the country`s enormous public debt, a measure actively sought by the International Monetary Fund but opposed by leading European lender Germany.

Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos on Tuesday said Obama`s visit would "contribute to promoting a fair and viable solution on the Greek debt."

Obama is also expected to address Europe`s challenge in accommodating hundreds of thousands of refugees who have arrived on the continent fleeing conflict in the Middle East.