Muscat meets Russia’s deputy PM, calls for closer bilateral relations

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat called for closer relations between Malta and Russia during a meeting with Russian deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

“I believe that Malta will boost its relations with Russia in the near future,” Muscat said ahead of the meeting in St Petersburg. “Our two countries must talk to each other more often and identify the sectors we want to collaborate on. Political relations are crucial if we want business in the financial services and tourism sectors to progress.”

He said that he agrees with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s recent statement that Europe “must not only talk about Russia…but also with Russia”.

In a statement, the government quoted Dvorkovich as saying that Russia is “very interested” in developing closer business ties with Malta. 

The Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri accompanied Muscat to the meeting in St Petersburg.