BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Malta’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela in Beijing on Sept 13, vowing to jointly contribute to an open world economy.

China stands ready to make the Belt and Road Initiative a new platform for the comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, to further advance the bilateral relations, Wang said.

“There is a need for China and Malta to enhance cooperation in opposing unilateralism and trade protectionism, and jointly contribute to an open world economy,” Wang told Abela.

Abela said Malta wishes to enhance cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and expand cooperation in the fields of trade and commerce, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

“Malta stands opposed to trade wars, which serve the interests of none,” said the minister.