Valletta, March 29 (NationPress) India and Malta convened for the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations in Valletta to evaluate their bilateral relationship. The two countries reached an agreement to enhance collaboration across various sectors, including Information and Communications Technology, healthcare, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and education.

In their discussions, India and Malta explored methods to strengthen their economic and commercial ties, especially in the context of the recently finalized India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday. Officials from both nations addressed regional and international issues of shared interest and committed to continuing their collaboration in the multilateral arena.

The MEA indicated, "During the consultations, the parties assessed the complete range of their bilateral relations, expressing contentment with the steady development of ties between India and Malta, highlighted by the upcoming 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025."

"They acknowledged the recent surge in bilateral engagements, characterized by high-level visits. The discussions emphasized cooperation in areas such as trade and investments, tourism, technology and innovation, the maritime sector, and collaboration in educational and cultural domains," it added.

The meeting, held on Friday, was co-chaired by Secretary (West) of the MEA, Sibi George, and Christopher Cutajar, the Permanent Secretary of Malta's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During his visit, Sibi George met with Malta's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ian Borg, to discuss how to enhance existing cooperation and expand the scope of bilateral engagement.

George also conferred with Brigadier Clinton J O'Neill, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, to explore avenues for strengthening defense and security cooperation.

Additionally, Sibi George engaged with Maltese business leaders to discuss further strengthening trade and investment ties between the two nations.

He also visited the St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, a significant historical site known for its Baroque architecture, as noted in a post on X by the Indian High Commission in Malta.

India and Malta maintain a friendly and cordial relationship. India was among the first nations to acknowledge Malta's independence in 1964, establishing diplomatic relations in 1965. Both countries share a common heritage as members of the Commonwealth, which Malta values highly, having hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2005 and 2015.