Li Bin, minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) visited Malta from Jan 19 to 20 and met with Maltese President Coleiro Preca.

Li said the Chinese-Maltese friendship is a good example of nation-to-nation relationship building. 

She expressed gratitude to President Preca for support in spreading Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Malta. Li hoped both countries could enhance cooperation in both traditional and modern medicines.

President Preca thanked the Chinese government for dispatching TCM professionals to work in Malta, allowing Maltese people to benefit from TCM.

"The Mediterranean Chinese Medicine Center, co-built by China and Malta, treated nearly 10,000 patients in 2016. Many European patients also come here for treatment due to the fame of TCM," Preca said. 

The center has trained many TCM professionals for Malta and European nations. The two sides expect to build Malta into a bridge for spreading TCM to European countries.

During Li's visit, she signed a protocol of cooperation on TCM with the Maltese health minister and visited the Mediterranean Chinese Medicine Center.

The Mediterranean Chinese Medicine Center was built in the 1990s, and was the first TCM center in Europe. In the future, China and Malta will push forward for more cooperation in clinical services and medical staff training based on protocol.

Jiang Jiang, the Chinese Ambassador to Malta, and relevant officials from the NHFPC accompanied Li on the visit.