VALLETTA, Sept. 19-- "Across Golden Bridge" -- China-Malta culture and media forum under the theme of "protection and development of World Heritage" kicked off on Friday here in Malta.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Malta's Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis, Malta's Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici, Chinese Ambassador to Malta Cai Jinbiao are among the participants in the forum.

In his welcome speech, Muscat said Malta's cultural heritage is a crystallization of the endeavors of Maltese hard-working forefathers.

He said "Our wise and industrious ancestors built our past. It is now up to us to build our future, together."

The Chinese Ambassador said to the conference that China and Malta are both rich in culture and history. These heritages should by all means be well preserved and protected. These are things that makes the theme of today's Forum relevant.

Sponsored by Malta's Ministry for Tourism, China Cultural Media Group, China Culture Center in Malta and Let's go Malta Group, the one-day forum highlights Malta's abundant and unique cultural heritage. It is aimed to show the archipelago's marvelous achievements in World Cultural Heritage conservation and restoration, and exchange experiences in the field of conservation and restoration.

"Across Golden Bridge" International Culture and Media Forum was set up in 2013. It has been successfully held in Sweden and Cuba separately.