China eyes stronger maritime ties with Malta
China’s Commerce Ministry says it wants to expand cooperation on shipping and port logistics
China aims to strengthen ties with Malta in the shipping and port logistics sectors, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced on Thursday.
In a statement reported by Reuters on Thursday morning, the ministry said China was hoping to capitalise on Malta’s strategic location to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese and Maltese officials discussed the matter in an economic and trade cooperation meeting in Beijing, although further details remain unknown.
The move would build upon the historically strong ties between the two countries to broaden Chinese trade routes in Europe.
Bilateral ties between Malta and China were first established in 1972, with cultural and trade partnerships remaining strong ever since.
Several key Maltese enterprises have seen an influx of Chinese investment over the years, most notably China Merchants Port Holdings buying a significant stake in Malta’s Freeport and Shanghai Electric’s taking a 33% stake in Enemalta.
Late last year, a delegation of Malta’s top property and business magnates visited Shanghai as part of a State-organised delegation. Justice Minister Jonathan Attard also held a bilateral meeting with Vice Mayor Zhang Xiaohong of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government as part of the visit.
At the time, Attard said Malta was committed to building new bridges of cooperation that would benefit both countries.
Belt and Road Initiative
The development of stronger shipping ties is likely linked to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Chinese government’s flagship effort to strengthen its trade connectivity.
Launched in 2013 by Chinese President xi Jinping and sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road, the initiative aims to build a series of transport corridors to facilitate trade between China and other territories.
The initiative involves the creation of several maritime hubs, including in the Mediterranean. A 2020 OECD report described the Greek port of Piraeus as “one of the most significant BRI success stories,” turning it into one of the world’s fastest-growing container ports.
However, plans to expand the BRI network in the Mediterranean suffered a significant setback in late 2023, when Italy, the only G7 country to participate in the initiative, formally withdrew from the scheme.