On May 29, Charge d'Affaires Peng Yijun was invited to the Institute of Tourism Studuies (ITS) to attend the inauguration ceremony of the China-Europe Tourism & Gastronomy Cultural Exchange Centre and delivered a speech. Dr. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, delivered a video address, and Mr. Pierre Fenech, the CEO of the ITS and Prof. Kang Nian, Principle of the Shanghai Institute of Tourism, among others, attended the event.

Charge d'Affaires Peng Yijun said that food and tourism transcend national boundaries and are the bond of mutual learning between civilizations. The Center which will feature a new cooperation model of "culture + education + business", marks a new stage in China-Malta cultural and tourism cooperation. We hope that the Center could become a bridge for people-to-people exchanges and industry-university integration, and deliver tangible outcome of cooperation.

Dr. Borg said that the establishment of the center will create a new channel and more opportunities for cooperation in the field of tourism services between Malta and China. Malta is confident in its tourism and education cooperation with China and will continue to serve as a bridge between different cultures and contribute to the education and cultural exchanges between Europe and China.