UM Rector meets the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China

On 15 July 2026, UM Rector Prof. Frank Bezzina, held a meeting with His Excellency Zhang Zuo, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China. The Ambassador was accompanied by Embassy officials Mr. Liu Haitao and Ms. Li Na.  

Prof. Bezzina received Ambassador Zhang together with Pro-Rector for Internationalisation, Enterprise and Outreach, Prof. Leonie Baldacchino, Director of the International Office, Ms Stefania Agius Fabri and Co-Director of the Confucius Institute and Head of the Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures, Prof. Dennis Mizzi.

Rector expressed the University’s appreciation for the close collaboration with the Embassy and the excellent working relationship across several areas. Rector made reference to the success of the Confucius Institute and the strong collaboration between the UM and Xiamen University.

He made reference to the tangible results being obtained through the SINO Malta research projects and the long-standing collaboration with the Shanghai University for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Rector also referred to the programme of teaching of Maltese at the Beijing Foreign Studies University and the engagement of Chinese young diplomats on the Master of Diplomacy programme offered by MEDAC.

He also referred to the increasing number of collaborative faculty engagements facilitated through Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility and other bilateral exchanges and study abroad agreements that are being pursued and through which UM and Chinese staff and students are benefiting from opportunities. The Chinese student body at the UM is also on the increase with a total number of 73 Chinese students currently pursuing full degree programmes at the UM. 

The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Rector for this meeting soon after the start of his term. He stated that the UM plays a significant role in people to people, research and cultural exchanges and is an extremely important contributor towards the excellent relationship between Malta and China. China notes the role that the UM plays not just locally but also on a European level.

The Ambassador expressed his appreciation towards the continued support that the Rector and the senior management of the University has consistently provided to the Confucius Institute and all the other excellent initiatives. China attaches great importance to the UM’s investment in collaboration with China and expressed his wish to double the current collaborations also through new initiatives.