Visit to Australia by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. George Vella

The Governments of Australia and Malta reaffirmed the closeness and strength of the relationship between Australia and Malta. During his visit to Australia, Dr. George Vella met separately with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Tim Fischer and with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alexander Downer, on 27 August. Dr. Vella's visit is the first by a minister of the new Labour Government which came to power in the October 1996 elections. In addition to his official programme in Canberra, Dr. Vella met State Ministers and Maltese communities in Sydney and Adelaide.

Discussions in Canberra concentrated on ways to develop trade between Australia and Malta, including development of partnerships between Australian and Maltese companies aimed at exporting Australian goods and services into North Africa and other areas of the Mediterranean. The desirability of organising trade missions in both directions involving counterpart Chambers of Commerce was also discussed. Dr. Vella outlined the potential advantages to Australian exporters of the Malta Freeport trans-shipment and storage services.

Australian Ministers welcomed suggestions from the Maltese side for exchanges in a range of areas, which include co-operation to combat drugs and crime, prisoner exchange, customs co-operation, upgrading telecommunications links, education exchanges and health research. They agreed that these were positive ideas which needed to be explored in greater detail in order to determine their potential for developing and expanding the bilateral relationship. Official and relevant organisations in Australia would respond in due course to specific Maltese proposals.