China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Malta to crack down on cross-border crime, said Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Wednesday.

 

During a meeting with Tonio Borg, deputy leader of the Nationalist Party (NP) of Malta, Zhou said Sino-Malta relations have developed in a healthy way since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 34 years ago.

 

Zhou, who is also a Chinese state councilor and Minister of Public Security, said the CPC and the NP, both governing parties, should enhance the exchanges to help promote the relations between the two countries.

 

Borg said Malta would like to further the relations and cooperation with China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2006)