Maltese Ambassador to China presents Credentials

On Friday 16^th April 1999, H.E. Mr Saviour F. Borg presented to President Jiang Zemin his Letters of Credence as Resident Ambassador of Malta to the People's Republic of China. Present for the ceremony, which was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, were Mr. Olaf Terribile, Counsellor from the Malta Embassy in Bejing; the Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Director General of the Department of Western European Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the Deputy-Director of Protocol, among others.

President Jiang Zemin, while cordially welcoming Ambassador Borg and congratulating him on his appointment, recalled the visit to Shanghai of the former President of Malta, Agatha Barbara, when he was still the Mayor of Shanghai. He also referred to the recent appointment of President de Marco, recalling in particular the visits that President de Marco made to China as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. President Jiang Zemin remarked that notwithstanding that the two countries were far away from each other, Malta enjoyed respect and a high reputation by the Governement and the People of China. The relationship of China with Malta is a long-standing one and has always developed in a correct and smooth manner.

Ambassador Borg expressed his sincere thanks to the President for the warm welcome accorded him and augured that his appointment will serve to bring closer the two countries. He stressed that diplomatic relations between the two countries have indeed been strengthened and enhanced as a result of, among other things, the visits to Malta by high-level Chinese dignitaries, which in turn have been reciprocated by the Maltese side.

Ambassador Borg also mentioned how Malta, at the regional level, is doing its part to strengthen peace and security in the Euro-Mediterranean region, through the Barcelona Process and through its aspirations to become a Member of the European Union. Ambassador Borg noted that in the same vein, China was playing an important role in its region and even beyond. He expressed that both Malta and China could work together in the search for new avenues of co-operation for the benefit of both peoples.

Ambassador Borg, on behalf of the Government of Malta, extended to President Jiang Zemin an invitation to visit Malta sometime next year. President Jiang Zemin expressed his thanks for the invitation and stated that he must find an opportunity to visit Malta.