Bonnici calls for direct Malta-Asia flights during China forum

Justice minister Owen Bonnici called for the establishment of direct flights between Malta and east Asia during a speech at a forum in China.

“Connectivity is crucial, and growth in tourism volumes can only be sustained if the ways for tourists to reach our destination are simplified,” Bonnici told the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan. “The Malta International Airport presently boosts links to 90 airports, compared to 45 airports ten years ago.

“I look forward to further collaboration between destinations within our respective regions to ensure the successful growth of our destinations.”

The theme for this year’s conference was “Asia’s New Future: New Dynamics and New Vision”. Bonnici was invited to a panel to discuss the ‘Maritime Silk Road’, a strategy by the Chinese government to boost trade between China, south-east Asia, the Middle East, east Africa, and Europe.

Other panelists included Hainan governor Liu Cigui, vice Chinese foreign affairs minister Liu Zhenmin, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley.

In his speech, Bonnici called for further mutual co-operation between Malta and the Asian continent with regards culture and maritime trade.

“It is our duty to foster this co-operation, economically, socially, and culturally, for the benefit of our peoples,” he said. “That is what the global economy is all about, after all.”

I’m told that there is a proverb in Japan  - A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.

We are here because we believe that we can achieve more, together.  And we are more than ten.”