Discussing New Opportunities for China's Economy | Interview: Looking Forward to Continuously Deepening Economic and Trade Cooperation with China - Interview with Buttigieg, CEO of Malta Trade Council

Valletta, June 3 (Xinhua) - Exclusive interview: Looking forward to continuously deepening economic and trade cooperation with China - Interview with Buttigieg, CEO of the Malta Trade Authority

Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Wenxian

Anton Buttigieg, CEO of the Malta Trade Authority, recently stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that the trade relationship between Malta and China has a long history and a solid foundation. With the steady progress of the current economic and trade relations between the two countries, there are broad prospects for cooperation in various fields such as agriculture, education, and scientific research.

In 2015, the Maltese government and the Maltese Chamber of Commerce jointly initiated the establishment of the Malta Trade Authority. Buttigieg said that this institution has always been committed to helping Maltese companies explore overseas markets, one of the most important destination markets being China.

Buttigieg introduced that Maltese companies have made continuous progress in exploring the Chinese market in recent years. In 2024, Maltese bluefin tuna will be exported to China for the first time, taking a crucial step towards cooperation between the two countries in the field of aquaculture. Malta is actively promoting the export of more high-quality aquatic and agricultural products to China, while also expanding cooperation with China in the field of aquaculture research.

The Maltese bluefin tuna made its debut at the 6th China International Import Expo in 2023 and officially entered the Chinese market the following year.

In Buttigieg's view, the annual CIIE provides an excellent platform and opportunity for companies to expand into the Chinese market. Malta has participated in the CIIE as a national pavilion for several consecutive years, and as a result, Buttigieg has become a regular visitor to the CIIE. He stated that this year, the Trade Bureau will continue to encourage Maltese companies to actively participate in exhibitions, not only to promote products, but also to showcase Malta's history, culture, and industrial advantages to the Chinese public, reflecting the traditional friendship between Malta and China.

Butiger is very concerned about the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road". Malta is one of the first EU countries to respond to the "the Belt and Road" initiative. He said that the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" has greatly improved the level of global trade connectivity and brought opportunities for Maltese enterprises to cooperate with Chinese enterprises.

Looking ahead to the future, Buttigieg is full of confidence in the economic and trade cooperation between Malaysia and China. He stated that the Chinese market has enormous potential, and Malta is actively committed to engaging in dialogue and consultations with China on deepening economic and trade cooperation at different levels.