Maltese President George Vella (R) meets with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Valletta, Malta, Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu)
VALLETTA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Maltese President George Vella and Prime Minister Robert Abela expressed on Tuesday their support for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
They made the remarks during their separate talks with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee.
During the talks, the Maltese leaders also said Malta adheres to the one-China policy and actively supports a sound and stable development of relations between Europe and China.
Noting that the year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malta and China, Vella and Abela said Malta will join hands with China to organize a series of celebration events to enhance mutual trust and cooperation.
Yang, hailing bilateral ties as an "example of friendship between countries with different social systems and cultural traditions," said Chinese President Xi Jinping and Maltese President Vella sent letters to each other twice this year, laying out the direction for bilateral relations.
He also thanked Malta's support for the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Yang said China is willing to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to work with Malta to implement the consensus of the two heads of state, take care of each other's concerns, promote cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative and in other areas such as clean energy, infrastructure, marine ecology, environmental protection and culture, as well as to enhance coordination and mutual support on multilateral affairs.
Yang noted that strengthening communication and expanding cooperation between China and Europe not only conforms to the interests of both sides, but also benefits international cooperation while tackling global challenges.
China is willing to push forward China-Europe relations in the right direction based on mutual-respect, he said. Enditem
Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela (R) meets with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Valletta, Malta, Dec. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu)
