Malta's president calls for closer ties with China

President of Malta George Abela on Thursday expressed the wish that Malta and China could work more closely together to further explore the infinite possibilities existing in various fields with a view to elevating the bilateral relationship to even higher levels. Abela made the remarks while speaking at a reception marking the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Expressing his warm congratulations to the anniversary, Abela recalled once again the kindness shown to him personally by Chinese President Hu Jintao during his visit to the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. He described the Malta-China relationship over the 40 years since establishment of diplomatic relations as a close and fruitful one which strengthened further with the passage of time. With almost one agreement signed per year since 1972, Malta and China registered remarkable progress in various sectors such as trade, education, health and people-to-people exchanges, he said. Hosting the reception at the Westin Dragonara Resort, Chinese Ambassador to Malta Cai Jinbiao reviewed the tremendous achievements China has secured since 1949 and especially over the past 34 years of reform and opening-up. Noting the challenges the Chinese economy was facing at the moment, Cai said the Chinese government was pursuing a more balanced and sustainable growth, which was slower but better and would continue to benefit the whole world including the EU and Malta. The ambassador also expressed his satisfaction at the developments in various fields of the China-Malta relationship such as trade, education, health, culture and sports. He said these achievements were made all the more meaningful since this year marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malta. He was fully confident that greater progress was yet to be achieved over the remaining years of his tenure as the Chinese Ambassador to Malta.