President George Vella today received Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China at Verdala Palace. In welcoming Minister Yi, President Vella recalled that last year marked the 50th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, adding that progress had been made on all fronts since then. President Vella recalled Malta’s longstanding commitment to diplomacy as an instrument for dialogue and welcomed the decision by US and Chinese delegations to choose Malta as the venue for their high-level talks over the past two days. This was another concrete example of the country’s vocation to promote peace and stability in its immediate neighbourhood and beyond.
On his part, Minister Yi stated that the agreement to meet in Malta further attested to the trust and respect that Malta enjoys on an international level. He observed that bilateral relations have gained momentum over time and have been built on mutual respect despite difference in size and geography. The Minister congratulated Malta on serving as an elected Member of the UN Security Council, adding that this position provides several opportunities to cooperate with China, as a permanent member of the Council, on pressing global challenges like poverty reduction, Agenda 2030 and climate change.
The two interlocutors discussed areas of global collaboration and challenges. Specifically on the Russian war in Ukraine, President Vella emphasised that China has a vital role to play in persuading Russia to end the war, in the interest of international stability and peace.
