Full coverage: China’s Leaders

VALLETTA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body is willing to work with the Maltese parliament to create a sound environment for broadening the two countries' pragmatic cooperation and jointly boost the in-depth development of bilateral relations, China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng said here Sunday.

Yu Zhengsheng (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), shakes hands with Anglu Farrugia, speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta, in Valletta, Malta, April 10, 2016. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

China and Malta have maintained a long-time friendly relationship with mutual political trust, close economic cooperation, and deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said during a meeting with Anglu Farrugia, speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta,

He thanked Malta for supporting and helping China's evacuation of Chinese nationals from Libya in 2011, saying China is willing to work with Malta to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and promote their traditional friendship.

China is also ready to expand mutually-beneficial cooperation with Malta in such fields as science and technology, fishery and tourism, he said.

Yu said the CPPCC stands ready to maintain close exchanges with the Maltese parliament and various social sectors and enhance communication on experience of governance.

Yu Zhengsheng (2nd L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Anglu Farrugia, speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta, in Valletta, Malta, April 10, 2016. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

For his part, Farrugia said Malta and China have maintained a sound relationship with frequent high-level exchange of visits and fruitful cooperation in various fields.

He expressed his country's gratitude for China's selfless support for Malta's development.

The Maltese parliament highly values its relations with China and stands ready to strengthen exchanges with China at all levels to promote practical cooperation between the two sides and push forward the progress of bilateral ties, he said.

Yu, during a stopover in Valletta, will pay an official goodwill visit to Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana from April 10 to 20.