VALLETTA, June 17 -- China is willing to further expand bilateral cooperation in various areas and to promote closer party-to-party exchanges with Malta, a visiting senior Chinese official has said.

Guo Jinlong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the pledge on Tuesday when meeting with Maltese President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat respectively.

Hailing the stable progress of bilateral ties after the diplomatic relations established between the two countries in 1972, Guo said the relations, particularly in recent years, have maintained good momentum of comprehensive development.

In 2014, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on governmental cooperation, pointing out the way for the development of bilateral relations.

Guo, also secretary of the CPC Beijing municipal committee, said the Beijing municipal government would further pragmatic cooperations in related areas with Malta.

Preca said the relations between the two countries have developed rapidly since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, and the MOU demonstrated bilateral ties had entered a new phase.

The Maltese president added Malta would like to work together with China for the benefits of the two countries and both peoples.

Muscat noted that in the past two years, the Labor government has upheld the friendly foreign policy towards China and made new breakthroughs in bilateral relations.

The prime minister added that the Maltese government and the Labor Party would continue the friendly relations with the Chinese government, the CPC and the Chinese people, and continue to strengthen the pragmatic cooperations with Beijing as well as other Chinese provinces and municipalities.

During his visit, Guo also met with Simon Busuttil, leader of the Nationalist Party.