China-bound

A group of ten young students from the student organisation Pulse, on Friday left Malta for Beijing, China, to take part in an International Festival of Art.

The visit was made possible as a result of the personal contacts of former Minister Reno Calleja, the President of the Malta China Friendship Society and his executive members.

Mr Calleja saw them at the airport and urged them to keep Malta’s name high. “Once you see the beauty of China you will never forget this country,’’ he told them.

The festival will be broadcast on several Chinese TV stations giving Malta thousands of euros’ worth of publicity.

The students met the Chairman of the Arts Council, Albert Marshall and the Malta Tourism Authority to get some financial help to finance their air ticket.

Hotel accommodation, food and transport will be free thanks to the contacts of Mr Calleja.

In the last two months the Malta China Friendship Society, which is a non-funded organisation has strengthened further the ties between Malta and China.

A few days before the election Madame Li Xioalin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, visited Malta on the invitation of Mr Calleja and the M.C.F.S. She is the daughter of the former President of China Mr Li Xian, who in 1984 visited Malta and was conferred with Gieh ir-Repubblika.

Although Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was in the thick of the electoral campaign, he found the time to meet Madame Li at Castille at the request of Mr. Calleja. She was also received by President Coleiro Preca.

Only last week a delegation from Dongcheng visited Malta to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the city of Mdina. The delegation was invited to Malta by M. Calleja, who is a personal friend of the Mayor of Dongcheng.

The June issue of the Chinese magazine in English, Voice of Friendship, published an article written by Mr Calleja on the 45th anniversary of the Maltese/Sino relations.

The magazine is widely circulated in China and sent to over 300 friendship associations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the US, and Canada.