Cecilia Attard Pirotta, permanent secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Chai Xi, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malta, signed an agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports between Malta and the People’s Republic of China at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Valletta. The agreement is now set to become operative on the 6 March, 2008.

Last year saw the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Since then, there have been various exchanges in the political, economic and medical field. The agreement is yet more evidence of the deepening engagement between the two sides.

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo’s co-chairmanship of the 7th session of the Joint Commission on Economic Affairs in Beijing, China last May, was another landmark in the evolving Sino-Maltese relationship. This agreement is a direct consequence of the May 2007 Joint Commission.

It is envisaged that increased trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries, amongst other spin-offs, could result as a consequence of increased interaction between Maltese and Chinese senior officials, expected as a result of the coming into operation of this agreement.