Malta participates at 22nd Universal Postal Congress

At the invitation of the Government of the People's Republic of China, the 22nd Universal Postal Congress is being held in the BEIJING International Convention Centre. The Conference was inaugurated this morning by the President of the People's Republic of China Mr Jiang Zemin who highlighted China's ambition and determination of developing modern postal services to meet social needs.

More than 2000 delegates and observers from around the world are attending the Congress which will come to a close on the 15 September 1999.

The opening ceremony which took place at the Great Hall of the People was characterized by speeches delivered by the UPU's Secretary General and other Chinese dignitaries, who focused on the need to give the Union's bodies the direction and motivation to improve the quality of the postal service and retain its share of the global communications market. The Secretary General of the Universal Postal Union Mr Thomas E Leavey, whose term of office is likely to be renewed for another 5-year term, following ad hoc elections, emphasised in his opening address that postal administrations all over the globe are having to confront a period of particularly rapid change in their regulatory and operational structures, as they adapt to a communications environment that is being revolutionized. Mr Leavey stressed that this issue is assuming critical proportions, considering that competition - whether from private postal operators, from other postal administrations or from providers of alternative means of communications, is becoming increasingly aggressive.

It will therefore be up to the 22nd Universal Postal Congress to find an appropriate response to these and other challenges. The Congress will have the important role to devise a strategy and develop an action plan that meets the needs and expectations of postal enterprises and customers.

Mr Anthony De Bono Deputy Chairman and Henry Gauci Head International Affairs of Maltapost plc are currently in Beijing participating at the World Congress.

The Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Censu Galea, accompanied by the Chairman of Maltapost plc Mr Frank Dimech, will be travelling to Beijing where the Minister is expected to address the plenary session of the Congress.