Malta will continue to have a special place in Britain's heart even after the UK leaves the European Union, UK Brexit minister David Davis told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Wednesday.
Mr Davis assured Dr Muscat that the two nations' warm and close relationship would continue in the future - a point he also made in a Talking Point published on Wednesday.
Writing in the Times of Malta, Mr Davis said that the two nations shared a common history, fundamental values and aspirations.
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"The UK's important relationship with Malta will not diminish after Brexit," Mr Davis wrote. "We will continue to be your closest friends, allies and trading partners after we've left the European Union."
Dr Muscat used the meeting with Mr Davis to say that "common sense" was needed from both sides of the Brexit negotiating table to ensure the deal struck was fair to the UK while also safeguarding the EU's core principles.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by EU Affairs Minister Helena Dalli, EU Funds parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia and former minister Louis Grech, who serves as a consultant to Dr Muscat.