Anglu Farrugia, the speaker of the Maltese House of Representatives, addresses the opening of 2019 Happy Chinese New Year program, Jan 18, 2019. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

While attending the opening of the 13th Happy Chinese New Year celebrations in Valletta and the fourth Inspired in China art exhibition by Maltese artists (2018-2019), Anglu Farrugia, the speaker of the Maltese House of Representatives, said on Friday that such cultural exchanges bring together Chinese and Maltese cultures.

In 2018, four Maltese artists went to Southeast China's Fujian province and portrayed natural landscapes and people's lives there. A total of 69 of their paintings and photography works are now on show at the Inspired in China exhibition running at the parliament building through Jan 30.

During his remarks, Anglu Farrugia also hailed the contribution of the China Cultural Center in Malta in promoting understanding between people in the two countries over the past 15 years.

The exhibition is part of the Happy Chinese New Year celebrations sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which will feature a wide variety of cultural activities ranging from performances and exhibitions to temple fairs and salons.