Cultural agreement between Malta, China signed

Malta and China have signed a cultural agreement spanning over four years, in preparation for when Valletta becomes the European Capital of Culture in 2018.

The agreement was signed in Beijing, China.

In a statement, the parliamentary secretariat for culture said the Chinese government agreed to collaborate with Malta in preparation for the culture programme.

Parliamentary secretary José Herrera said China would be helping Malta in a cultural programme covering various sections of cooperation between the two countries.

The cultural programme was signed by Chinese parliamentary secretary Ding Wei.

Herrera said the government's handling of arts and culture will provide the "cutting edge" for the Labour administration.

"We are determined to cultivate a cultural environment that isn't insular, but international in scope," he said.

Present for the news conference was V18 chairman Jason Micallef who participated in the discussion the government had in China. Micallef also travelled to Riga, Lativa, for the opening ceremony of this year's cultural capital.

The agreement reached with China covers seven sections of cooperation, including arts and culture exchanges, preservation and conservation of cultural heritage, audio-visual policy, local councils and Valletta 2018.

Meanwhile, the Malta Council for Arts and Culture will be organising the seventh world summit for arts and culture. The summit will be held in Valletta in October 2016.