New ambassadors to China and Portugal

Karl Xuereb is Malta's new Ambassador to the People's Republic of China and Salv. Stellini has been appointed Ambassador to Portugal.

Mr Xuereb, 46, is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a Masters in business administration from Warwick Business School.

After graduating in accountancy from John Moores University in Liverpool, UK, he trained with Touche Ross in London. On qualifying, he took on a managerial appointment at Price Waterhouse in Milan.

Mr Xuereb was, until recently, the managing director of Creditinfo Malta, which he established. Earlier he served at the Bank of Valletta Group as assistant general manager and head of strategic planning, deputy chairman of the marketing committee and member of the finance committee. He then joined Mid-Med Bank as director of European business.

Mr Stellini has been non-resident Ambassador to Portugal since November 2003. In May 2004, he was appointed by the Cabinet to chair the CHOGM Task Force leading to the Malta CHOGM last November.

Mr Stellini, 66, graduated BA (Hons) from the University of Malta in 1964. In 1965, he obtained a Masters from the University of Alberta, Canada and subsequently a certificate in international economic and political relations from the London School of Economics.

He served as a diplomat in Malta's missions in New York and London, as Ambassador in Washington and High Commissioner in London. He was also non-resident Ambassador for Canada and Ireland. Between 1977 and 1979, he was assistant director in the Commonwealth Secretariat, based in London. In the early 1980s, Mr Stellini worked in international marketing with a private company in Malta. He served as Permanent Secretary and later, advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In recognition of his public service, Mr Stellini was appointed Member of the National Order of Merit last December.