On March 3, 2026, at the invitation of Mr. Hugh Arrigo, Director of Attard & Co. Group, Ambassador Zhang Zuo attended and addressed the reception hosted by the Maltese business community to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Over 100 guests were present, including Hon. Miriam Dalli, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness, Hon. Alex Borg, Leader of the Opposition, and representatives from the business community and the Chinese community in Malta.

Ambassador Zhang stated that amidst the intertwined changes and turbulence in the international landscape, it is all the more necessary to make unremitting efforts to keep China-Malta cooperation at the forefront. We should tap into the potential and focus on emerging fields to promote two-way investment; maintain resolve and start with specific projects in specific fields to extend the list of mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win outcomes; inject impetus and promote the synergy of development strategies to strengthen connectivity and mutually beneficial ties; and stimulate vitality and ride the express train of China's expanding high-standard opening-up to broaden the space for economic and trade cooperation.

Representatives from the Maltese business community expressed the view that the turbulent world highlights the shared future of humanity, and that differences should be bridged through inclusiveness and win-win outcomes. Malta and China should deepen mutual trust and cooperation to jointly pursue peace and prosperity. They look forward to strengthening strategic cooperation with Chinese enterprises to share opportunities and achieve common development.