Malta and China registered 9.7 per cent year on year trade growth. This was the only positive growth between China and EU27 countries, said the Commerce Vice-Minister of The People’s Republic of China, Mr Zhong Shan.

Mr Zhong Shan was yesterday in Malta for a 30-hour visit during which he discussed progress in the field of trade and two-way economic and technological cooperation, with Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.

Progress and achievement on bilateral investment was revealed during what Mr Zhong Shan described “a very productive two-hour session”. They also discussed new ways of promoting relations between the two countries, ways of intensifying cooperation and reached consensus in the field of trade.

In comments to journalists following the Ministerial meeting, Mr Zhong Shan said he was deeply impressed by the beauty of Malta and the people’s hospitality and invited a business delegation for the Shangai Expo in May.

Mr Fenech said the meeting focused on export opportunities and business in a new globalised world. He explained that China will be opening itself to the world during the Shangai Expo which will start on 1 May. Joint commerce opportunities between Malta and China will be discussed on 14 May – Malta Day.

Malta was acting as a platform for Chinese business to export into the EU, Mr Fenech pointed out.  The double taxation agreement and alternative energy business were among the matters discussed.

extract from The Malta Independent