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OFFICIAL TALKS HELD TODAY BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
pr1115
24/07/2001
24/07/2001
| The Prime Minister held talks earlier today with President Jiang | Zemin at Auberge de Castille. These took the form of an in-depth exchange of views on the present status of bilateral relations, as well as on how these could be further developed. Issues of common concern were also discussed. |
| The Maltese delegation included the Deputy Prime | Minister and Minister for Social Policy, the Minister for Tourism, the Minister for Economic Servies and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese delegation included the Vice Premier of the State Council, the Chairman of the State Development Planning Commission, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation and the Minister in charge of the Policy Research Office, CPC Central Committee. |
| The Prime Minister, while welcoming President Jiang | Zemin to Malta, reviewed relations between the two countries. Both expressed satisfaction at the level to which these relations had evolved over thirty years of diplomatic activity. |
| On his part President Jiang Zemin extended an | invitation to Prime Minister Fenech Adami, on behalf of Premier Zhu Rongji, to visit China. While accepting the inviation, the Prime Minister referred to his previous visits to China in 1994 and 1978, adding that even at that time he had witnessed the increase in the standard of living of the Chinese people. |
| With reference to co-operation in the economic | sphere, the leaders expressed their satisfaction at the strong links that have been established and at the positive ongoing contacts, which augur well for further economic interaction. |
| While making reference to the forthcoming meeting of | the Malta /China Joint Economic Commission, scheduled to meet in September, they expressed their hope that further avenues of co-operation would be secured during this meeting. Particular reference was made to the setting up of a Distribution Centre in Malta that would facilitate the transhipment of Chinese goods through the Malta Freeport. |
| President Jiang Zemin, while assuring the Prime | Minister that the Chinese Government would facilitate and encourage Chinese companies to use Malta's facilities, stated that the Malta Freeport was well located and had all the necessary facilities for distribution within the Mediterranean region. |
| The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the | assistance provided by China over the years, with particular reference to the Malta Freeport and the Malta Drydocks, as well as the donation of three grants of RMB three million each. With regards to the utilisation of the grant extended to the Maltese Government during President de Marco's visit to China earlier this month, it was agreed that its utilisation would be discussed in detail at the forthcoming Malta/China Economic Joint Commission. |
| While making reference to the recent announcement | that Malta was to be listed as a 'destination country' for Chinese tourists, the Prime Minister explained that this would enhance relations also on a ‘social’level. |
| During these discussions, the Prime Minister and | President Jiang Zemin briefed each other on the measures being taken by their respective Governments in the political and economic fields. The Prime Minister outlined the rationale behind his Government's decision to join the European Union and how Malta depicts its role within the Union. |
| The Prime Minister and President Jiang Zemin also | exchanged views on the current situation in their respective regions, particularly the Middle East and China-Russia relations, in view of President Jiang Zemin's recent meeting with President Putin. In this context, it was noted that the United Nations should be considered as the primary 'guarantee' for peace in international affairs. |
| The Prime Minister congratulated President Jiang | Zemin on China's recent successful bid to host the Olympic Games in 2008 and assured him of Malta’s participation in these Games. |
| Following the official talks, three documents were | signed: an Executive Programme on Cultural Co-operation for the Years 2001-2003, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Setting-up of a Cultural Centre in the respective countries and a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism. |
| All three documents were signed by Mr. Gaetan Naudi, | Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Yang Guirong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malta. |
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