'Malta welcomes more Chinese presence and hopes to work with China in identifying more areas for future economic collaboration', said Mr. Tonio Fenech, Minister for Finance, the Economy and Investment on receiving a courtesy call by the Chinese Ambassador Mr. Cai Jinbiao on April 23rd 2012.

Highlighting the prominent role of economic and trade cooperation in enhancing China-Malta relations over the last 40 years, Ambassador Cai expressed the hope that more could be done to further tap the big potential for cooperation in the business and commercial fields between the two countries. Minister Fenech reciprocated by welcoming more Chinese enterprises and investment to Malta and promised full support from the Maltese government in exploring new areas for cooperation with China such as the green energy.

The two sides also discussed matters relating to Maltese civil servants and technical people attending training programmes in China and the renovation of the Serenity Garden which was funded and constructed by China in the 1990s in Santa Lucia.