Cultural diplomacy as means to strengthen the EU's external relations including North African countries is on the agenda of a two-day conference as part of Malta's EU Council Presidency events.

Delivering the opening address European Commissioner For Culture, Tibor Navracsis said that international culture relations was a strong tool to foster dialogue, diversity and sustainability.

He noted that for the first time later this month, culture ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised countries will be meeting in Florence, Italy to focus on the protection of cultural heritage, combatting trafficking of artistic and historic items and using culture as an instrument for dialogue.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said that apart from being a means to promote tolerance and peace, culture could be a catalyst for sustainable and socio-economic development, and bi-lateral cooperation.

The Tunisian and Croatian cultural ministers, as well as a Unesco representative, were also among the speakers.