Health Minister Joe Cassar has presented tokens of appreciation to the Chinese medical staff who accompanied President George Abela to Malta just before their departure to China this afternoon.

Dr Cassar thanked the Chinese govt for taking excellent care of President Abela, reflecting the great relations between the two countries.

Dr Abela, who suffered a spinal injury when he fell at a Chinese hotel last week, was accompanied back to Malta by three doctors and the head of the orthopaedic department of the Ruijin Hospital in Shangai, Prof. Zhang Wei Bing.

China’s ambassador to Malta Zhang Keyuan wished Dr Abela well on behalf of his President.

He said that there was a lot of close cooperation between the two countries to make the flight possible.

Dr Zhang and medical team gave Dr Abela professional treatment from their hearts and in China’s policy, countries were equal partner, whether big or small.

Dr Cassar said that Dr Abela was slightly better. He was being taken good care of, there were no complications and the fact that he was physically fit should help in the recovery period.