Foreign Minister in China

"My official visit to China has raised Malta's profile here as a politically relevant friend inside the European Union and a significant business partner", Foreign Minister Michael Frendo told The Sunday Times.

In an exclusive telephone interview from Beijing on Friday evening, the minister - who is leading a 39-strong trade delegation to Beijing and Shanghai - emphasised that he had achieved his goal of building new dimensions into the 35-year-old bilateral relationship.

"With the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yang Jiechi, I discussed not only bilateral issues, inviting him to make an official visit to Malta to mark the anniversary, but also key topics within EU-China relations, focusing on Malta's own role and activities within the Union."

"I also emphasised that by 2015, Malta intends to be the leading regional centre for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), health and financial services. I then focused on the broad range of opportunities and facilities Malta can offer Chinese business people wanting to access the EU, Middle East and North African markets".

Students and tourists

The two ministers agreed to open talks on the abolition of visas for diplomatic passports as well as visa facilitation for bona fide visitors, such as students, academics, artists and business people, in particular those registered with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Dr Frendo also suggested discussions on the mutual recognition of academic degrees, which would boost the number of Chinese students applying to study at the University of Malta.

"With Tang Jiaxuan, State Counsellor for Foreign Affairs (the 10-person State Council is the government's highest executive organ), I discussed ways of increasing the flow of Chinese tourists to Malta", the minister continued. "I briefed him on the 5+5 meeting of Mediterranean Tourism ministers in Tunisia last year (suggested by Malta) where it was agreed to jointly promote 'multiple destination' tourism. Malta and Tunisia have now agreed to work together in the Chinese travel market, and I see new prospects for co-operating with Greece - since Air China will be flying there. I also admit to trying to 'entice' the airline to serve Malta as well!"

Dr Frendo signed two formal agreements with the Vice-Minister for Commerce Yu Guangzhou: the first for an eight-year Lm1.2 million operating lease for a state-of-the-art mobile container scanner to help the Customs Department fight the illicit trafficking of narcotic and other goods and substances.

The second agreement provides for Chinese government grant equivalent to Lm125,000 for the implementation of projects to be subsequently agreed by both countries. This follows a Lm52,000 equivalent grant agreed last week to supply equipment to the Armed Forces of Malta.

"At the seventh meeting of the Sino-Maltese Commission on Economic Affairs I convinced my co-chair Minister Guangzhou to allow the entire 39-strong Malta business delegation to be present", Dr Frendo stated. "I then invited each delegation member to explain who they were and why they had come to China. Due to the high level of the delegation participants, this clearly made a strong impression on the senior Chinese government officials present. The Commission will meet in Valletta next year, with energy security, alternative energies and water production as leading topics.

Malta's strategic role

"In my opening remarks to the subsequent business meeting in the huge hall of CCPIT, filled to capacity with Chinese business leaders, I again emphasised Malta's role as a financial and services centre, a logistical and transhipment base and entry point into EU, North African and Middle Eastern markets.

I described Smart City and emphasised changes in our visa issue procedures, with screening now being done directly by our embassy in Beijing. This was followed by a reception I hosted which enabled business people to initiate one-on-one contacts."

Barely two hours after landing in Beijing, the minister gave a public lecture at the elite diplomatic training school, the China University for Foreign Affairs entitled "Malta's Geopolitical role in the Mediterranean and in a wider Global context".

"The university has long standing links with the University of Malta in particular its Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies", Dr Frendo explained. "President Guido de Marco and MEDAC's director, Professor Stephen Calleya, both lectured there recently.

"In my presentation I underscored Malta's central mission in the Mediterranean promoting peace and stability - which resembles China's own vision for its role in Asia."

"I also highlighted that Malta was a successful country despite its lack of natural resources - not least water - and its modest geographical size and population, achieving the transition from a colonial military base to a trade, investment and maritime centre with an exceptional endowment of harbours."

Dr Frendo today travels to Shanghai, where he will be received by the vice-mayor, attending a formal banquet in his honour. Before his departure from China tomorrow, he will open the Business and Trade Fair in which the trade delegation will participate.

Many Maltese business leaders who form part of the trade delegation are expected to stay on for several days in China.