CHINA-MALTA MIXED ECONOMIC COMMISSION MALTA MEETING

The second session of the Malta-China Economic Mixed Commission was held today at the Ministry for Economic Services in Valletta.

The Mixed Economic Commission has been established to strengthen and promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, following an agreement signed in July 1997. The objectives of the Commission include: "To enhance mutual understanding; resolve any problems that might arise from trade and economic activities between the two countries; put forward proposals which aim to promote the development of bilateral trade and economic relations".

The China–Malta Mixed Economic Commission held its first meeting in September 1999, in Beijing.

This second meeting in Malta was co-chaired by Minister for Economic Services Prof Josef Bonnici, and by Vice Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Mr Zhou Keren.

The other members of the two delegations were:

Maltese Delegation: Parliamentary Secretaries Dr George Hyzler and Mr Edwin Vassallo, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Economic Services Mr Vincent Galea, representative MFA, representatives from MIMCOL, METCO, MDC, MDD and Malta Freeport.

Chinese delegation: H.E. Ambassador Yang Guirong, the Deputy Director General of the Department of European Affairs, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Economic Cooperation, other Government officials, other embassy officials and five visiting entrepreneurs from manufacturing and trading companies.

Both sides discussed cooperation between China Harbour Engineering and Malta Drydocks, Malta Freeport and its facilities, Malta's potential as a trading base for Chinese exports to Europe and North Africa, including transhipment activity at the Malta Freeport, the establishment of a Chinese trade centre in Malta, and cooperation in manufacturing and trade activities.

Since the first meeting of the mixed commission last year, the Chinese Government has pledged two grants of Lm150,000 each as assistance towards the realization of the cooperation initiatives sanctioned by the Commission.