China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has rewarded former Labour minister Reno Calleja for his “outstanding” efforts to promote relations between Malta and China over the past 38 years.
The award was presented to Mr Calleja while attending a conference on international exchanges and co-operation in the province of Guangdong.
Last September, Mr Calleja, who is president of the Malta-China Friendship Society and secretary general of the Maltese-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, received the Friendship Award from Chen Hao Su, the retiring president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The honour is given to foreign personalities as a tribute to their contribution towards the promotion of friendship with and understanding of China.