Diplomats present credentials

Richard John Palk, High Commissioner of Australia, and Liu Zehgxiu, Ambassador of China, yesterday presented their diplomatic credentials to President Guido de Marco at the Palace in Valletta.

Mr Palk is an experienced career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He served at the Australian embassy in Bangkok from 1995 until 1999, initially as counsellor and later as consul general and counsellor. Between 1999 and 2002 he served in Kuala Lumpur as consul general and counsellor.

Mr Palk was born in Brisbane in 1950 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland.

He is married and has two daughters.

Mr Liu was born in 1946. He served as deputy consul general within the Chinese consulate in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam between 1992 and 1995 and in 1995 as counsellor and director of the personnel department within the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry until 1997 when he was promoted to director general.

Mr Liu is married and has two children.