During a meeting on Tuesday, Mr Tabone and Mr Zhaoguo focused on a wide range of issues, including a review of the existing friendly relations between the two countries, particularly those at the parliamentary level.
They both believe that inter-parliamentary relations should serve to promote friendship between peoples. Mr Tabone gave a detailed overview of the functions and the present structure of the Maltese House of Representatives while also referring to parliamentary diplomacy and the Maltese Parliament’s involvement at the international level in light of Malta’s European Union membership.
The speaker outlined Malta’s initiative to set up a Parliamentary Assembly of Mediterranean States under Inter-Parliamentary Union auspices, as well as the island’s contribution to the success of the Barcelona Process.
Mr Zhaoguo congratulated Mr Tabone on Malta’s EU membership and hoped that the island will now play a bigger role at an international level, particularly in Mediterranean matters.
The Chinese Vice-Chairman finally invited Mr Tabone to visit the People’s Republic of China next year.
Mr Zhaoguo also met with Opposition Leader Alfred Sant at the Malta Labour Party headquarters. Dr Sant explained that Malta always enjoyed a privileged relationship with the People’s Republic of China. The country always respected Malta despite their differences, Dr Sant said.
Dr Sant said the diplomatic relationship between Malta and China was established when the MLP was in government, and over the years the party had convinced all political forces of the importance of this relationship.
During the meeting, the Opposition Leader also spoke of the MLP’s efforts at strengthening Malta’s relationship with China, including the twinning of a local council with a Chinese local council.
Mr Zhaoguo said the Chinese people appreciate the party’s efforts and said the relationship between the two countries was always based on a sense of mutual respect. China believes that every country is equal, regardless of its size, he said.
As in the meeting with Mr Tabone, the Chinese Vice-Chairman said cooperation between Malta and China must be strengthened to grow further.
Mr Zhaoguo and his delegation also met President Edward Fenech Adami and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.