Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing on 14 July with Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg.
Wang Yi noted that Malta, located at the strategic crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, has pursued “small country, big diplomacy”, playing a unique and positive role in safeguarding world peace and stability. China and Malta enjoy traditional friendship, with strong political mutual trust and profound public support. China cherishes its friendship with Malta and appreciates Malta’s long-standing commitment to making the development of relations with China a diplomatic priority.
Ian Borg said that Malta and China enjoy traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation. Malta attaches great importance to its relations with China, always makes developing relations with China a diplomatic priority, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation. Malta is willing to continue playing an active role in promoting EU-China relations.
Malta and China have a long history of friendship, especially since the two countries established diplomatic relations on 31 January 1972, when Dom Mintoff of the Malta Labour Party was Prime Minister.
That friendship was reflected in a separate meeting the same day with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC).
Liu stated that the CPC stands ready to maintain institutionalised exchanges with the Labour Party of Malta, strengthen political dialogue, and promote exchanges between think tanks, media outlets, and youth organisations, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and continuously consolidate the social and political foundations of China-Malta relations.
Borg said that he visited China for the first time in 2006 and witnessed the tremendous achievements China has made in economic and social development in recent years. In particular, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has eliminated absolute poverty and realised many dreams. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malta and China, the bilateral relationship has maintained sound development. Malta firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road cooperation, and is willing to work with China to further tap the potential of bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, ports, new energy vehicles, climate change, and tourism. Despite different sizes and social systems, Malta and China have similar views on many issues.
The Labour Party is willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogues with the CPC, promote youth exchanges, and pass on the friendship between Malta and China.
Borg paid an official visit to China, July 13-16.
A review of the historical significance of Malta-China friendship may be read here. The following articles were originally published on the websites of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the IDCPC.
Wang Yi Holds Talks with Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg
July 14 (MFA) — On July 14, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg in Beijing.
Wang Yi noted that Malta, located at the strategic crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, has pursued “small country, big diplomacy”, playing a unique and positive role in safeguarding world peace and stability. China and Malta enjoy traditional friendship, with strong political mutual trust and profound public support. China cherishes its friendship with Malta and appreciates Malta’s long-standing commitment to making the development of relations with China a diplomatic priority. China is ready to maintain high-level political mutual trust, mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support with Malta, honor commitments on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, culture and tourism, science and education, and maintain sound communication and coordination in international affairs.
Wang Yi said that the most important experience and inspiration learned over the past 50 years of China-EU relations is that China and the EU should be characterized rightly as partners, not rivals, and that dialogue and cooperation should be the defining feature of the relationship. There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU. China is an opportunity, not a challenge, for Europe. Although the two sides differ in history, culture and stages of development, such differences should not make them rivals, nor should divergences lead to confrontation. As two major forces, civilizations and markets in the world, China and the EU should understand, respect and appreciate each other, view the mutually beneficial nature of bilateral relations with a developmental perspective, jointly advance the progress of human civilization, and safeguard world peace and stability.
Ian Borg said that Malta and China enjoy traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation. Malta attaches great importance to its relations with China, always makes developing relations with China a diplomatic priority, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation. Malta looks forward to further deepening cooperation with China in various fields and welcomes more Chinese friends to visit Malta. Malta also believes that the EU and China should be partners rather than rivals, and that differences should be properly handled through dialogue and consultation. Malta is willing to continue playing an active role in promoting EU-China relations.
Liu Jianchao Meets with Ian Borg, Deputy Leader of Labour Party, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta
Beijing, July 14th (IDCPC) — Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Ian Borg, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party of Malta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta.
Liu noted that China and Malta are good friends that have stood the test of time. China is willing to work with Malta to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, expand exchanges in culture, education, tourism and other sectors, and promote new progress in China-Malta relations. Calling Malta a bridge between China and Europe, Liu expressed the hope that Malta will continue to play a constructive role in the European Union (EU) and promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.
Liu stated that the CPC stands ready to maintain institutionalized exchanges with the Labour Party of Malta, strengthen political dialogue, and promote exchanges between think tanks, media outlets, and youth organizations, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and continuously consolidate the social and political foundations of China-Malta relations. The world today is undergoing both transformation and upheaval. China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace. China will steadfastly further deepen reforms comprehensively, expand high-level opening-up, and comprehensively promote Chinese modernization. China is willing to share development opportunities with all countries in the world, including Malta, and inject stability and certainty into the world.
Borg said, I visited China for the first time in 2006 and witnessed the tremendous achievements China has made in economic and social development in recent years. In particular, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has eliminated absolute poverty and realized many dreams. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malta and China, bilateral relationship has maintained sound development. Malta firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road cooperation, and is willing to work with China to further tap the potential of bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, ports, new energy vehicles, climate change, and tourism. Despite different sizes and social systems, Malta and China have similar views on many issues. Malta is willing to actively promote the development of EU-China relations. Both major political parties in Malta pursue friendly policies toward China. The Labour Party is willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogues with the CPC, promote youth exchanges, and pass on the friendship between Malta and China.
Lu Kang, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, was present.
