I arrived in Malta to take up my post as the Chinese Ambassador to Malta in September. On my arrival flight, the Maltese islands unfold in front of my eyes like a magnificent painting. Walking through the streets of Valletta is like stepping into an open-air museum. Back in Beijing, I learned about the beauty of this country which already went viral on the Chinese social media RedNote.
Today, standing on this land of sunlight and limestone, feeling the sea breeze weaving through its cities, I am deeply proud of the friendship between our countries, a fine example of mutual respect and equal footed partnership between countries that differ in sizes, cultures and historical backgrounds.
As a diplomat, I have experienced the tropical landscapes of Bangladesh and the Balkan charm of North Macedonia. Today, I am honoured to serve my country here in Malta – a gem in the Mediterranean, where I am impressed by the ‘big diplomacy’ of a ‘small island state’.
The day of accreditation was unforgettable for me. Accompanied by the aide-de-camp to the president, my counsellor and the director of protocol, and escorted by police motorcyclists leading the motorcade, my wife and I arrived at the Grand Master’s Palace in the presidential car from my residence.
Malta holds ‘pulse of the Mediterranean’
Upon entering the Parliament Square, mounted police joined the procession, attracting the attention of many passers-by. The vibrant streets of Valletta, the historic architecture that we went by are all marked by the profound cultural heritage of Malta. In the majestic Grand Master’s Palace, I presented my Letter of Credence to President Myriam Spiteri Debono, where we had a cordial meeting in the presence of the Maltese officials and the diplomats from our embassy.
After leaving the Ambassador’s Hall, I was ‘presented arms’ by the honour guards before returning to my residence. In the afternoon, my wife and I were invited to a luncheon hosted by the president at San Anton Palace, where I gladly exchanged views with the Ambassador of Moldova and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka who also presented their credentials that day. Together with Madam President, we delivered toasts for our long-lasting friendship and the peace and prosperity of our nations.
The Maltese islands hold the pulse of the Mediterranean as they are located at a strategic geographical position between the Atlantic, east Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean and have become a crucial hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa by air and sea. Yet, as Malta has witnessed conflicts and integration of civilisations in the course of history, I believe the key to its enduring vitality lies in its openness and inclusiveness.
The history of ‘Red China Dock’
From the beautiful Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour, I saw the famous ‘Red China Dock’, an enduring monument of the friendship forged between our two nations half a century ago. It was then-prime minister Dom Mintoff who became the first European leader to visit China, an event of global significance at the time. Back then, Malta was reviving from colonisation and faced daunting challenges.
China highly appreciates Malta’s long-standing adherence to the one-China policy- Zhang Zuo
While China was then still struggling for its own subsistence, we extended an interest-free loan of 100 million RMB (equivalent to $70 million at that time) to support Malta, building a 300,000-ton dry dock, breakwaters, glass factory, textile mill and many other projects. Nearly 1,000 Chinese engineers travelled across continents to work shoulder by shoulder with their Maltese counterparts, leaving legacies of China-Malta friendship.
Seeing Malta flourishing amid the turmoil of the world and its people enjoying a life of tranquillity, I deeply feel the value of open development.
With a population of less than 600,000, Malta welcomes nearly four million visitors annually. Being historically a crossroads for great powers, Malta has carved out its own path toward independence. After its independence in 1964 amid the Cold War, the country adopted a policy of neutrality and non-alignment, moving from its dependence on the bases left behind by former colonisers to a self-reliant economy. By diversifying its industries, Malta formed a developed economic system with its own distinct features, as a member state of the EU, Schengen area, eurozone and the Commonwealth.
Sharing a commitment to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and equality, China and Malta have always supported each other’s core interests. China highly appreciates Malta’s long-standing adherence to the one-China policy, while both sides work jointly to advance high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China has introduced visa-free entry for Maltese citizens to facilitate personnel exchanges.
Institutions such as the China Culture Centre, the Mediterranean Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre and Confucius Institute have further strengthened our people-to-people bonds. Leveraging its own advantages, Malta has gained a bigger role in the international community through more and more trade and cultural exchanges with various countries including China. Malta’s achievement has shown the world the value of independent development.
Standing at a new starting point, China-Malta relations are embracing an even brighter future. I look forward to working closely with the Maltese side to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders of state, deepen political trust, expand practical cooperation, enhance mutual understanding between our peoples and open a new chapter in the friendship between China and Malta.
Zhang Zuo is the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China.