A business roundtable, which aims to promote the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), was held in Malta on March 27, bringing together representatives from over 10 Maltese businesses and organizations, including the Malta Food Agency, Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Chamber of SMEs, and Base Malta, a leading exporter of Maltese products.

A business roundtable promoting the 8th CIIE is held in Malta on March 27. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

Chen Guihua, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Malta, highlighted the successful export of Maltese bluefin tuna to China for the first time in last October, calling it a milestone in bilateral trade. He urged Maltese businesses to take full advantage of the CIIE platform to showcase local specialties such as wild-caught tuna, fish by-products, and olive oil, fostering deeper trade cooperation between the two countries.

Ning Feng, president of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), which serves as the venue for the CIIE, remarked that Maltese bluefin tuna made its inaugural appearance at the 6th CIIE prior to officially entering the Chinese market the following year, highlighting how the CIIE has facilitated the conversion of exhibits into commercially available products in China. He expressed his desire for Malta to present more interactive displays at the 8th CIIE, allowing Chinese consumers to engage with and experience the country's high-quality products, technologies, and services firsthand.

Brian Vella, chief executive officer of the Malta Food Agency, expressed strong support for promoting the expo among local businesses and mobilizing Maltese food companies to participate. He looked forward to fostering practical cooperation with Chinese partners in the future.

Representatives deliver their speeches at the event. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

During the event, the CIIE working team addressed questions from business representatives regarding registration, maximizing participation benefits, and import inspection procedures.

While in Malta, the CIIE working team also met with TradeMalta, the country's trade promotion agency, to explore further collaboration. Ning appreciated TradeMalta's efforts to organize Maltese participation in past expos. He noted that Malta's tourism industry has grown rapidly in recent years and encouraged the country to showcase its tourism sector and investment opportunities at the 8th CIIE. He also welcomed Malta to present its desalination and wastewater treatment technologies at the expo.

The CIIE working team meets with TradeMalta. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

Anton Buttigieg, chief executive officer of TradeMalta, confirmed Malta's strong interest in participating in the 8th CIIE, with plans to finalize its exhibition theme soon. He hoped that the expo would help boost the two countries' tourism, investment, and business partnerships. He also expressed enthusiasm for future cooperation in marketing, connecting with buyers and suppliers, and facilitating business exchanges between Maltese SMEs and Chinese companies.

By Zhao Guangmei