Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening tabled a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding in parliament signed earlier this month between the Maltese government and China.

“In 2014, I believe that the European market is important but the world is far bigger than Europe,” Dr Muscat said, referring to Malta’s business ties with China.

He said that this is the first MoU of this kind a European country has made with China.

“This MoU will open wide doors to investment in Malta, namely in the tourism, energy and sport and culture sectors, sectors which are of a top priority for Malta.

“This government shows it is ready to do business with every part of the world,” Dr Muscat said.

He said that China may invest in the building of a breakwater in Sliema.

In response, PN deputy leader Mario de Marco said that the Opposition welcomes investment initiatives, highlighting that ties with China go back a number of years, referring to a trade and economic corporation agreement signed in 1997, and another on double taxation avoidance in 2010.

“This is not the first MoU that has been signed with China,” Dr de Marco said.

He said if one were to look at the MoU in detail, certain projects such as the breakwater mentioned by Dr Muscat, do not feature in the agreement.

PN MP Tonio Fenech said that it is happy to hear that the government is building on the PN’s past relations with China.

He said that the MoU agreement signed by a Labour Party in government did not show the “added value” portrayed by the prime minister in terms of investment, when compared to agreements signed with China in the past.

“One was expecting a leap in its efforts in terms of financial investments,” Mr Fenech said.

He said that initiatives created by a PN government were gathered in the MoU Dr Muscat signed with China earlier this month.

PN MP George Pullicino said that once the prime minister said that Sai Mizzi Lang’s issue (the wife of Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi) could have been handled better, would he consider tabling her trade envoy contract?

Mr Pullicino asked the prime minister why he did not publish the Electrogas agreement and why he did not raise the issue of human rights in China, especially regarding internet control.

PN MP Kristy Debono asked Dr Muscat to reveal the timelines of the investment projects mentioned in the MoU.

When it comes to the selling of assets, she asked if the government can give the Opposition and the public in general peace of mind that it would be issuing tenders in a transparent manner.

PN deputy leader for party affairs Beppe Fenech Adami urged the public to sift through the number of MoU’s signed in the past, adding that the eight page MoU is a cut and paste of past MoU’s.

He questioned why PL MP Deo Debattista formed part of the delegation in China.

“It is time for the government to give taxpayers an account of Sai Mizzi’s work contract,” he said, highlighting the fact that The Malta Independent filed a freedom of information request only to be turned down by the government.

PN leader Simon Busuttil said that the Opposition welcomes all forms of investment but asked the prime minister what is so ground breaking about this particular MoU.

He said that Dr Muscat should have a sense of perspective since before he states that he is about to engage in a ground breaking agreement, he should verify whether the ‘ground breaking’ agreement would already have taken place.

Dr Busuttil asked if the government consulted with the EU on the agreement with China.

Last week, following the energy conference at the Interocontinental Hotel, The Malta Independent posed the question to Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi who had replied saying the Maltese government constantly updated the EU on its talks with China.

Outlining the agreement reached with Shanghai Electric Power tied to energy, Mr Mizzi said that the agreement is indeed “ground breaking” since a number of rating agencies welcomed the agreement.

He said that an audit team from China is currently in Malta to better Enemalta’s governance in terms of procurement.

On the Delimara project, a team of experts emerged with a technical plan to convert the plant from oil to gas, he said.

PM jibe towards Opposition cracks up parliamentary debate

In response to the Opposition’s remarks on the MoU, Dr Muscat said that fifty days ago the Opposition said that it learnt a lesson and said it would not be negative any longer.

“The Opposition did so by requesting that Sunday political ‘sermons’ should stop for the timebeing,” Dr Muscat said, adding that one cannot decide to stop being negative on a Sunday and decide to be negative on a Monday instead.

Dr Muscat said that the investment the Maltese government attracted already saved Enemalta Corporation and the jobs of its workers.