THE PRESIDENT OF MALTA AND MRS DE MARCO PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The President of Malta and Mrs. de Marco this morning left for an official visit to the People's Republic of China. Between the first and the eighth of July President de Marco will be visiting Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. President de Marco is being accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Joe Borg.

The President and Mrs de Marco will first stop in the capital, Beijing where he will meet the President of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin and the Prime Minister Zhu Rongji for formal talks. At the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, President de Marco will be delivering a lecture entitled "Ideas and Ideals on UN Reform". The President will then be conferred with a degree Honoris Causa. During his stay in Beijing, President de Marco will inaugurate the new premises of the embassy of Malta. In the evening, the President and Mrs de Marco will be the guests of honour at a State Banquet given by President Jiang Zemin and Mrs Zemin.

While in Beijing Minister Joe Borg will be signing a memorandum of understanding on consultation between the foreign ministries of the respective countries. He will also sign a co-operation agreement between the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies and the China College of Foreign Affairs.

On the fourth of July, the President and his entourage will arrive in Shanghai. In this important economic centre, the President will be shown the Pudong New District, an export oriented urban area constructed over the past six years.

On his arrival in Hong Kong on the 6th July, President de Marco, accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Joe Borg, will meet the Executive Secretary for the Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region, Tung Chee Hwa.

During his official visit to China the President and Mrs de Marco will also be visiting places of cultural and historical interest.

The President of Malta and Mrs de Marco are expected back in Malta on Tuesday 10th July.