The Malta Council for Science and Technology’s China Liaison Officer is a “perfect fit” in view of his qualifications and work experience in connection with Chinese entrepreneurs, Education and Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo said in Parliament.

Answering a question by opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco, he tabled details of the qualifications of the selected person, who was employed in a position of trust and whose name the minister gave Dr de Marco under separate cover.

Mr Bartolo said the liaison officer was selected on the strength of his long experience of overseas work, communications and consultancies with Chinese entrepreneurs, even in China itself.

The fact that the person regularly travelled to China for personal reasons meant he was well placed to investigate any opportunity that could arise for collaboration in the research and innovation sector, without the need to finance his regular travels, the minister said.

With MCST he has an annual salary of 4,713 and works six hours a week. His agreement became effective on March 10, 2014 and was extended to March 9 next year.

Information given by the minister shows that the consultant studied at All Saints RC School, Kingston University and University College of London, graduating LLM. That was followed by a legal practice course at College of Law, London.