Colourful Chinese kites decorated the blue skies above the Maltese capital on Friday, attracting hundreds of children and visitors to the 2nd Chinese kite festival.

The festival coincides with the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and thus it is "taking on an even deeper meaning", said Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, president emeritus of Malta and chair of the President's Foundation of the Wellbeing of Society.

"Diplomacy is not only for politicians. Cultural diplomacy is also for people to come together to connect, to be friends and develop respect and sustainable friendships," she said.

A demonstration of dragon kite flying by Guo Hongli, a master kite builder from China's prefecture-level city of Weifang in Shandong Province, was a highlight of the event.

Some 200 students from 5 Maltese schools flew 100 traditional Chinese kites.

"The kite is beautiful. I like the colour, the art, the shape," commented Maruska Pulis, a 13-year-old student from Bormla, adding that she'd be glad to attend other Chinese cultural events.

With the aim of promoting traditional Chinese kite culture, Guo Hongli and his team will visit 7 schools and also hold kite-making workshops for the Maltese public in the coming days.

As part of this year's festival, the Malta National Community Art Museum (MUZA) will showcase a selection of Chinese kites until May 31.

The festival was organised by the China Cultural Centre in Malta in collaboration with the President's Foundation of the Wellbeing of Society and MUZA.

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