Chinese painter Na Yu An will be returning to Malta to display some of her works in a joint exhibition with Maltese artist Joseph Barbara.

The exhibition is expected to be officially opened by Chinese Ambassador Chai Xi at the Hotel Excelsior on June 7 when the Malta-China Friendship Society will also hold a Chinese dinner at the same hotel for the occasion.

It was the society that invited Ms Na to Malta again. The highlight of her visit will be a courtesy call on President George Abela to whom she is expected to donate a number of her paintings in aid of the Community Chest Fund.

A similar philanthropic gesture was made by Ms Na seven years ago when Guido de Marco was President of Malta. Ms Na, a well-known artist in China, in 1999 exhibited at the Chinese Art Gallery, a place where very few Chinese artists have the privilege of displaying their works.

Her paintings have been donated to 127 heads of government or embassies all over the world. She has also exhibited her works in 27 countries.

Through the sale of her paintings she actively supports Project Hope, a government-supported programme in China aimed at helping children in poverty-stricken rural areas to have an education. She also supports the orphans in Vietnam and provides funding for more than 150 poor children in China.

Ms Na will be visiting Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi to donate a painting.

The Malta Tourism Authority is supporting Ms Na's visit and will host her on a half-day tour to Gozo.