Malta will continue to strengthen its relations with Libya and its people, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Wednesday.

Following a one-on-one meeting with the Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Abela said that Malta will continue to offer its support to Libya’s people.

“World peace and stability are crucial when there are currently great challenges globally, so that our people do not continue to suffer the consequences,” Abela said.

Abela said that the challenges the world is facing are that of climate change, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the increases in energy and food prices, whose consequences and prices are being paid by the people.

“Malta will not be indifferent. We will continue to dialogue in favour of peace so that conflicts can be resolved,” Abela said.

Recently, clashes between those backing rival administrations in Libya have killed at least 32 people. Armed groups exchanged fire in Tripoli which damaged hospitals and set buildings on fire.

On the political conflicts, Abela said that he is aware of the challenging circumstances and encouraged Libyan citizens and leaders to decide on its future without any external influences.

Abela said that Malta will remain a strategic partner of Libya and will also continue pushing for proactive involvement of the EU, as Malta will sit in the Security Council of the United Nations.

During the meetings they had, the two delegations identified common areas for the two countries to focus on, where more collaboration can be done. The main topics identified were the policy on climate change, energy, education, and health, among others.

Present for the bilateral meetings were Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne and ministers Ian Borg, Silvio Schembri, Byron Camilleri, Miriam Dalli and Clyde Caruana.