Maltese Delegation Visits China For Talks On Tourism And Trade
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Dr Ian Borg, met with China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, on Monday during a high-level diplomatic visit to Beijing. The talks marked the start of a week-long official mission to East Asia, which includes engagements in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, followed by a visit to Tokyo, Japan.
Dr Borg will also represent Malta at the Malta Day celebrations during the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
During the bilateral meeting, both ministers reaffirmed the enduring friendship between Malta and China, emphasising shared commitments and future cooperation in a range of sectors, including the blue and green economies, tourism, education, fisheries, and improved connectivity via air and sea.
Dr Borg highlighted progress made since his previous visit to China in 2023, when a key agreement on tuna exports was signed. “The Maltese fisheries industry is recognising the importance of this commercial relationship, as demand for high-quality Maltese aquatic products from Chinese consumers continues to rise,” he noted. He added that further technical discussions are ongoing to broaden this cooperation beyond bluefin tuna.
The forthcoming EU-China Summit featured prominently in the discussions. The Maltese delegation underlined the need for constructive dialogue between the EU and China, stressing the importance of collaboration in global trade and in tackling international challenges. “As two of the world’s largest economies and key trading partners, the EU and China must work together to facilitate international trade and address ongoing global challenges, as we diversify supply chains, whilst preserving the relationships that have been built over decades,” Dr Borg stated.
In a separate meeting, Dr Borg held talks with Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sun Yeli, focusing on strengthening cooperation in tourism education. The discussions included initiatives involving Malta’s Institute for Tourism Studies and various Chinese institutions. “Investing in highly skilled human capital is at the heart of all efforts towards a sustainable and quality tourism offering. Malta has a lot to offer in this area, and these educational partnerships will continue supporting our respective tourism industries in coming years,” Dr Borg remarked.
The Maltese delegation also met with Minister Liu Jianchao, Head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, for an exchange of views on current geopolitical developments. Both sides underscored the importance of enhanced multilateral cooperation in addressing common global challenges.
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