Chinese Vice-President presents grant to Malta

Corey Attard

Feb 24th 2009, 00:42

If it wasn't for U.S.A sapporting Malta, you would be eating white rice every day.Mr portelli.

Chris Portelli

Feb 23rd 2009, 16:36

@ Albert Muscat, Well done Dr. Gonzi, a step forward indeed. I agree with you that we should maintain good relation with both potential economic powers such as China and India. At least we should learn from others (USA) failure @ Steve Rogers You are talking about ‘almost’ third of global populations as if you were talking about Mosta u Gozo..heheh. Were you living on planet Earth last summer when Presedint of France (then of the EU) when he visited China last summer? Do you remember what did Mr. Sarkozy say about China and how the Chinese answered back? @ john micallef Malta is not a security counsel member and also we are not a member of the (G7) or more precisely (G8) adding Russia as an observer member. Malta is a developing third world country, however this does not imply any belittle.

Albert Muscat

Feb 23rd 2009, 15:41

Dr. Gonzi is politician with a vision EU-China relations usually revolve around trade, with the EU buying €231 billion worth of goods from China last year and exporting €72 billion in return. Can we see the gap? The computer I am using right has many components that were manfcatured in China, while 93% of our (European) kids play with toys imported from China. "Western hostility toward China is largely rooted in the strong perception of many Westerners that China should develop according to the 'democratic mode' represented by the US and many Western European countries. Why should it have to?" Any way let us forget about this for few. In terms of the consequences of the first truly global financial crisis, multi-lateralism would also mean that rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, Libya and China would soon feel entitled to more voting rights in the International Monetary Fund than, for example, Luxembourg or Belgium, if their contribution is required to stabilise the markets. To give credit when it’s due: Dom Mintoff was a politician with vision too.

Steve Rogers

Feb 23rd 2009, 15:01

@Tony Gatt & Anthony Gatt: 1. Are you one and the same? 2. Are you serious with China's track record in Human Rights? We have a flip-flop government who can not get its priorities. From one hand msieken ir refjugati and then its seen smiling with an oppressive foreign government. I don't think the Vice-President showed himself unexpected on Castille's door. Other leaders shy away from meeting with China's leaders. Further to this, our (western economy) has been crumbling due to factories closing down because they are moving to CHINA! Its because their people work in abysmal factory/work conditions hence a cheap workforce, that companies move there. And while on it, what qualifies as "chinese products"? Everything nowadays is made in China. Finally does this mean now that we have signed a law and order coop agreement we will have tanks run over dissidents in Republic Street like what happened in China years ago?

leonardo vince

Feb 23rd 2009, 12:53

The problem is not the Chinese, a great people.

The problem is with us - or else those who made a mega U-turn and now want to befriend the Chinese after years trying to ridicule them.

Tony Gatt

Feb 23rd 2009, 12:49

We should feel honored to be visited by the vice-president of such a huge and powerful country and very thankful to receive a gift as a sign of friendship. I suppose that the moaning few believe that vice-president is here cause Malta has the power to revive the Chinese economy with the huge imports.

Joe Camilleri

Feb 23rd 2009, 11:53

Birdlife was granted a €1,000,000, ( the double that the chinese gave us ) just to stick a radio to 13 yeloukans' feet. So what is that a MULTI mega voucher? That is a shame on this countrys' politicians

Paul Caruana

Feb 23rd 2009, 10:45

When you invite a friend to your house for a visit, you should not feel offended, nor do you give offence, when he comes bearing gifts as a sign of his friendship. Malta. Considering the excellent relationship Malta has had for the past 30 odd years with this up and coming superpower, I do hope the Chinese will not take offence to such careless remarks.

Joe Grima

Feb 23rd 2009, 10:19

So when Mintoff was invited by friendly countries, Libya, Saudi Arabia, China itself , and handed over multi-million lira cheques for development of Maltese national projects - the freeport is one example- for his political detractors, that was the begging bowl. Today, China handing the Prime Minister a voucher for a measly 850,000 euros, that's a mega voucher. Perceptions my friend, perceptions. A company in London that corrects vision with lasers will do good business with your correspondent

Anthony Gatt

Feb 23rd 2009, 09:38

Congratulations Mr. Prime Minister for this successful initiative!

For too long now the focus of Malta's international relations has largely been the European Union. It is about time that we use our neutrality and our small size to our advantage by capturing a central position in International Relations dialogue. For this we must follow Swiss diplomacy and focus our efforts on being great (not just good) friends with all those who count. China counts for a lot!

john micallef

Feb 23rd 2009, 09:23

seems like we are becoming a third world country, begging for vouchers from foreign country...............and for only 0.5 million euros, what a shame on this country politicians

leonardo vince

Feb 23rd 2009, 09:10

'Malta was granted €580,000 yesterday to buy Chinese products and services as a token of China's appreciation of the good relations between the two countries. The mega voucher was presented to the Prime Minister by Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping'

Can you believe that? It seems that we project an image of 'mejtin bil-guh'. - and called a mega voucher to make matters sound more idiotic.