Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met in Beijing Thursday with a delegation of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs of the Maltese parliament led by its Chairman Jason Azzopardi.  

He said since the establishment of China-Malta diplomatic ties 33 years ago, bilateral relations have grown steadily.

In recent years, the two countries have kept frequent high-level exchanges with political mutual trust enhanced, and bilateral trade has increased rapidly, Jia said.

The two countries have strengthened their exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, health and civil affairs, and kept good coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, said Jia.

He said he appreciated the Maltese government and parliament's adherence to the one-China principle as well as their support for China's peaceful reunification cause.

"China attaches great importance to developing the relations with Malta, and is willing to push forward such friendly relations of cooperation to a higher level on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," Jia said.

Jia briefed the guests on the just-concluded annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC.

He said China's Anti-Secession Law, recently passed by the NPC, is a law to promote the cross-Straits relations and peaceful reunification, safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose "Taiwan independence."

Jia thanked the Maltese government for "its support for the Chinese government's motive to make the Anti-Secession Law."

"With a good momentum of development of bilateral relations, the two countries should consolidate their mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, education and tourism," Azzopardi said.

"The Maltese Foreign Ministry's support for China's Anti-Secession Law reflects Malta's consistent stand on supporting the one-China principle," he said.

He called on all countries in the world to "agree on this law aimed at safeguarding stability across the Taiwan Straits."

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2005)