Chinese President Meets Maltese Labor Party Leader

Chinese President Meets Maltese Labor Party Leader

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Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday in Valletta that China appreciates efforts by the Malta Labor Party in the development of China-Malta relations and hopes such ties will grow even better.

Jiang, who is here on a three-day state visit to Malta, made the remarks during a meeting with Alfred Sant, leader of the Malta Labor Party.

Jiang said China thanks the Malta Labor Party for its historical role in the establishment of full China-Malta diplomatic relations in 1972, when the Malta Labor Party was in power.

"We hope we can have more friendly contacts between our side and the Malta Labor Party," Jiang said. "We also hope that you and your labor party will continue to support the development of China- Malta relations."

For his part, Sant said that as the largest opposition party in Malta, the Malta Labor Party will continue to make efforts for the development of Malta-China friendly relations. He added that it is the common understanding of his party and the ruling party.

Sant said his party supports China's stand on the multipolarity of the world and the issue of Taiwan.

Malta is the last leg of Jiang's five-nation tour of Europe, which has taken him to Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.