On September 13, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela of Malta in Beijing.

Wang Yi said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malta, bilateral relations have always developed smoothly, setting an example for the harmonious coexistence of countries with different size of areas, population, cultural traditions, as well as social systems. The Chinese side highly appreciates that the Maltese side places China in an important position in Malta's foreign relations and fully understands and supports the Chinese side's legitimate propositions on issues involving the Chinese side's core interests and major concerns. The Chinese side is willing to be a partner of the Maltese side that enjoys mutual respect and trust in politics, mutual and reciprocal benefit in economy, mutual learning and common prosperity in people-to-people and cultural engagement, and that shares the same ideal and follows the same path in international affairs, so as to build the Belt and Road Initiative into a new platform for all-round cooperation between the two countries and promote greater development of China-Malta relations. As unilateralism is on the rise and international rules are being challenged, the world today is witnessing unprecedented changes in a century. It is necessary for China and Malta to strengthen coordination and cooperation, jointly oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism, and work together to build an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Carmelo Abela said that since Malta and China established diplomatic relations 46 years ago, the two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and the friendship between both sides has remained unshakable and become ever firmer as time goes by. The Maltese side highly appreciates China's long-standing adherence to the policy of equality between large and small countries, cherishes its friendship and cooperation with China, and will continue to firmly pursue the one-China policy. The Maltese side attaches importance to the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative with the Chinese side, so as to further expand cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, tourism and people-to-people and cultural engagement. At present, given the fact that multilateralism and free trade are being challenged, the Maltese side opposes trade wars which are not in the interests of any party involved. The Maltese side is also ready to play a positive role in promoting the smooth development of Europe-China relations.

After the talks, Wang Yi and Carmelo Abela jointly signed the Medium Term Cooperation Plan Agreed Minutes of the First Steering Committee Meeting between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Malta.