A bronze sculpture celebrating the longstanding friendship between Malta and China has been unveiled along the Marsaskala promenade, symbolising the cultural ties forged through the ancient Maritime Silk Road and the shared tradition of tea.

Titled 'A Tea Break on the Silk Road', the sculpture depicts Lu Yu (733-804), the renowned Chinese scholar revered as the "Sage of Tea" and author of The Classic of Tea. The sculpture was created by distinguished Chinese sculptor Professor Lü Pinchang.

The installation of this sculpture was made possible through a collaboration between the Marsaskala Local Council and the Malta-China Friendship Society, with the support of the China Cultural Centre in Malta.

The inauguration was attended by the Minister for Equality and Civil Rights, Rosianne Cutajar, who said the sculpture served as a reminder that the Silk Road was far more than a network of trade routes. She noted that it became a bridge connecting cultures through the exchange of ideas, traditions and friendships across continents, adding that this spirit of openness and dialogue continues to inspire cooperation today.

Mario Calleja, Vice-President of the Malta-China Friendship Society and Mayor of Marsaskala, expressed his gratitude to the Lü Pinchang Sculpture Art Museum of Jingdezhen and the participating entrepreneurs for donating the sculpture to the Malta-China Friendship Society. He said he was proud that the Society had, in turn, presented the artwork to the Marsascala Local Council so that it could be enjoyed by both the local community and visitors for generations to come. He also thanked the China Cultural Centre in Malta for its support and acknowledged the delegation that travelled from China to represent the donors at the inauguration.

The Director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta, Dr Chen Xiao, said the monument marked the meeting of two maritime civilisations through the universal language of tea. She remarked that, standing on the shores of the Mediterranean, the sculpture allows the timeless values of Chinese tea culture to take root in Malta, transforming the historic friendship fostered along the Silk Road into a lasting cultural landmark connecting both nations.

The sculpture is expected to become a distinctive cultural attraction along the Marsaskala promenade while serving as a lasting symbol of the friendship, mutual respect and cultural exchange that continue to strengthen relations between Malta and China.