The Minister of Education Evarist Bartolo has signed a cooperation agreement for Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees and Diplomas with his counterpart Minister Yuan Guiren of the People’s Republic of China.

This agreement is an important milestone to facilitate and enhance student mobility between China and Malta and to make Malta an attractive destination for Chinese students seeking tertiary education abroad.

During discussions prior to the signing ceremony, Minister Bartolo highlighted the importance that Mrs Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, is placing on enhanced Sino-EU cooperation in the field of higher education, and particularly within the proposed Erasmus for All programme.

“The Commissioner has taken particular interest in the agreement we signed today between Malta and China, and has welcomed the assistance that Malta can provide to further strengthen Sino-EU cooperation in the field of Education,” the Minister said.

The Rector of the University of Malta, Professor Juanito Camilleri, who is accompanying the Minister during the visit to China, expressed his satisfaction as he believes this agreement will be instrumental to increase the number of Chinese students in Malta, but also to encourage Maltese students to spend study-abroad periods in China.

“The number of world-class universities in China is impressive and the growing number of excellent degree programmes offered in English by Chinese universities provides Maltese students with a wonderful opportunity to study in China. Once Erasmus for All is introduced, the opportunity for student exchange with China will be further enhanced,” the Rector said.

The Minister was also accompanied by Mr Reno Calleja, the President of the Malta-China Friendship Society and the Ambassador of Malta to China, Dr Joseph Cassar.

During the various meetings scheduled for this first official delegation to China of the current Government, the possibility of enhanced cooperation between Malta and China in various other fields of mutual interest are being discussed.

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