Well, it had to be ‘long term’ agreement, because at the time Muscat was still in opposition.

But yes, in 38 years time, Muscat will still be at the Auberge, celebrating 80 years since Mintoff visited China, and 40 years since he (Muscat) signed his first MOU with them. Perhaps Lou will be there to organise some ‘national celebrations’ with the help of the national diva – no, not Mary Spiteri, but Ira Losco.

Muscat’s partnership with China wasn’t secret. Muscat himself told us about it in his now famous 2010 article in it-Torca.

Muscat said he had signed an agreement with China. He referred to it as a long-term agreement between the two countries.

Read that again. He said “long-term” and he said “between the two countries”, not between the Labour Party and China.

Brace yourself. You’re in for a long, long ride.

@ Ciccio

I hate to point it out, but I’d said it before the last national election: Muscat would win because China and Shiv Nair needed him as PM.

And did you see his suit, jacket down to the knees.

But there is more.

According to the Chinese media, Joseph Muscat is in China to attend the Eco Forum Global Annual Conference 2014 which this year is being held in Guiyang.

He will be in ‘good’ company. In fact, The Times journalists and BS (Saviour Balzan) – they have been handpicked to travel with the prime minister to the exclusion of others – are likely to have an opportunity to meet the Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu (a country which receives secretive Chinese aid and which sells passports to Chinese nationals), the President of Ethiopia (a graduate of Peking University) and Sergei Ivanov, Putin’s chief of staff who has been targeted by US sanctions.

The Chinese premier has met the President of Ethiopia before or after the meeting with Joseph Muscat.

http://english.cntv.cn/2014/07/08/ARTI1404824500341815.shtml

It says that:

“China hopes to help with Ethiopia’s transportation and power infrastructure through a regional aviation center, manufacturing center and a demonstration center of development and poverty reduction, Li said.

He proposed more projects including economic and industrial zone, expanded energy exploration, personnel training and agricultural cooperation, to set an example for China-Africa cooperation.

Hailing cooperation between China and Africa, Li said China hopes to work with African countries and the African Union to build railway, highway and aviation networks.”

It’s almost the same things they have promised to Joseph Muscat.

Except that China has promised railway aid to Ethiopia and monorail aid to Malta. But the last time that China was involved in railways outside the country, it was with the help of a certain Shiv Nair.

In his LinkedIn account, Mr. Nair refers to this advice to the President of China Railways International on rail projects in Latin America (internet sources suggest his involvement in Colombia).

http://mt.linkedin.com/pub/shiv-shankaran-nair/19/bba/0

And on his website, he refers to his involvement with the South Sudan-Uganda Railway Lines.

http://www.borneoholdings.com/pages/management_team

I kind of start to understand where Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi got the habit of repeating that “everything is on track.”

And I also understand who is behind the monorail proposal.

@ La Redoute

I warned readers here. China will be using Malta as a back door not only for the movement of people into the EU through EU citizenship, but also for movement of goods and capital.

I do not believe that it is a coincidence that AST is at the World Trade Organisation. AST was with Joseph Muscat when Muscat signed a secret MOU with China in April 2010.

@dudu

“The premier added he hoped Malta, as a good friend and partner of China within the European Union, would continue to play a positive role for the development of China-EU relations.”

Well spotted.

Excuse me: “a partner of China within the European Union” – what is that supposed to mean?

Since when is Malta “a partner of China within the European Union”?

Did Malta vote in a referendum for a ‘Partnership with China – il-Partnership l-Ahjar Ghazla?”

Is there a secret partnership arrangement that we do not know about?

I expect BS (Saviour Balzan) and Ta’ Times to get a full explanation from the prime minister during their flight back to Malta. What are the terms of this partnership with China in the European Union?

Does the prime minister sit at EU summits claiming he represents the partnership between Malta and China?

Experience in what?

This is so sublimely 80s. You can almost imagine Chris de Burgh setting it to music (yes I know, sandals in the playground and all that, but bear with me).

So here goes. If anyone is brave enough to write some music for this, I can do the video, in a suitably retro Armani suit and blow-dried hair.

People-to-people exchanges
That breathe life into what we do.
We would like more Chinese people
To experience tourism and business too.

A lot of things are going on between us
But we are always on the lookout for more.
Oh baby I hope that this website is useful to you.
So stay tuned, yeah.