Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Malta
Relationship assessment
China–Malta ties feature energy cooperation and Malta’s participation in Belt and Road initiatives.
People's Republic of China toward Malta
+35China signed a bilateral energy cooperation agreement with Malta in 2014, accompanying Shanghai Electric’s investment in Enemalta. China and Malta also signed a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum in 2018.
Malta toward People's Republic of China
+30Malta signed a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum with China in 2018 and participated in bilateral energy cooperation, including the 2014 agreement associated with investment in Enemalta.
Overall relationship
+35The relationship has included concrete energy cooperation and a Belt and Road cooperation framework, creating a basis for sustained practical engagement. The breadth and implementation of cooperation beyond these initiatives are unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and Malta have pursued practical cooperation in energy and infrastructure-related initiatives. A 2014 bilateral energy agreement accompanied Shanghai Electric’s investment in Enemalta, and Malta signed a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum with China in 2018. These arrangements indicate sustained engagement, though the scope and implementation of wider cooperation are unclear.
Key developments
China and Malta signed a bilateral energy cooperation agreement associated with Shanghai Electric’s investment in Enemalta.
Malta and China signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of energy and Belt and Road cooperation are unclear.
- Details of recent bilateral government initiatives are limited.