Carmel Inguanez, Ambassador of Malta to Russia, paid an official visit to St Petersburg where he had a meeting with the Governor of St Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko, who was her country’s diplomatic representative in Malta between 1991-94.

Ambassador Inguanez noted with satisfaction the excellent relations that exist between Malta and Russia and the historical links that exist between Malta and the federal city of St Petersburg. Apart from a review of the Maltese-Russian bilateral relations and the prospects of strengthening them, the meeting focused on ways to improve the commercial and economic ties between Malta and St Petersburg, in particular in the fields of tourism and investment.

The meeting offered an opportunity for both sides to look into the many unused possibilities in the development of commercial and economic cooperation. Governor Matvienko promised to lend the necessary official support and assistance in the activation of such cooperation. She spoke positively about the value added that Hotel Corinthia Nevsky Palace brought to the city and extended the invitation for Malta to participate with a commercial delegation in the forthcoming St Petersburg International Economic Forum, the main annual economic summit of Russia and the CIS countries, dubbed “the Russian Davos”, due to be held on 17/19 June.