China seeks deeper port and shipping cooperation with EU member Malta

China has signalled interest in expanding cooperation with Malta on shipping and port logistics, citing the island’s strategic position in the Central Mediterranean.

At an economic and trade cooperation meeting in Beijing, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said it was willing to strengthen “strategic alignment” with Malta, an European Union member state.

China and Malta established diplomatic relations in 1972, with Valletta seen in Beijing as a potential gateway to the EU single market.

Key points

• Cooperation linked to Belt and Road Initiative, championed by Xi Jinping

• Chinese firms hold stakes in Maltese infrastructure, including China Merchants Port Holdings’ investment in Malta Freeport Terminals

• Malta was among five EU states to oppose tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in 2024

ℹ️ Reuters

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This image is an aerial view of the Malta Freeport Terminals, located in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It is the third-largest transshipment port in the Mediterranean. (Malta Freeport Terminals)
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China seeks deeper port and shipping cooperation with EU member Malta
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