MR. SPEAKER MEETS DELEGATION FROM THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Anton Tabone, received a delegation from the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, led by the Vice-Chairman Mr Tian Jiyun.

In the course of the meeting The Speaker welcomed the delegation and gave a brief overview of Malta's history and parliamentary structures. Mr. Speaker said that such visits should serve to enhance the parliamentary diplomacy in its relevance to bilateral relations between the two countries. Malta, said Mr Speaker, may be small in size but its history and culture by far outsize its dimensions.

Mr Jiyun thanked The Speaker for his welcome and conveyed greetings from the Chairman of the People's Congress. Mr Jiyun made reference to the existing links between China and Malta and expressed satisfaction at the fact that for the past twenty-eight years since diplomatic relations were estalished activities have been prolific. In China the relationship between China and Malta is considered an ideal model for relationships between a small and a large state.

The object of the delegation's visit, said Mr. Jiyun was not only that of familiarisation, but more importantly to encourage further exchanges between the two countries on a broad spectrum of activities, which would produce even better results.

On behalf of the Chairman of the National People's Congress of China, Mr Tiyun extended an invitation to Mr Speaker to visit China.