On July 14, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg in Beijing.

Wang Yi noted that Malta, located at the strategic crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, has pursued "small country, big diplomacy", playing a unique and positive role in safeguarding world peace and stability. China and Malta enjoy traditional friendship, with strong political mutual trust and profound public support. China cherishes its friendship with Malta and appreciates Malta's long-standing commitment to making the development of relations with China a diplomatic priority. China is ready to maintain high-level political mutual trust, mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support with Malta, honor commitments on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, culture and tourism, science and education, and maintain sound communication and coordination in international affairs.

Wang Yi said that the most important experience and inspiration learned over the past 50 years of China-EU relations is that China and the EU should be characterized rightly as partners, not rivals, and that dialogue and cooperation should be the defining feature of the relationship. There is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU. China is an opportunity, not a challenge, for Europe. Although the two sides differ in history, culture and stages of development, such differences should not make them rivals, nor should divergences lead to confrontation. As two major forces, civilizations and markets in the world, China and the EU should understand, respect and appreciate each other, view the mutually beneficial nature of bilateral relations with a developmental perspective, jointly advance the progress of human civilization, and safeguard world peace and stability.

Ian Borg said that Malta and China enjoy traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation. Malta attaches great importance to its relations with China, always makes developing relations with China a diplomatic priority, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation. Malta looks forward to further deepening cooperation with China in various fields and welcomes more Chinese friends to visit Malta. Malta also believes that the EU and China should be partners rather than rivals, and that differences should be properly handled through dialogue and consultation. Malta is willing to continue playing an active role in promoting EU-China relations.