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No date yet for Mintoff’s Chinese medal

By Kurt Sansone

Two weeks after the announcement that former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff will be conferred the ‘Friendship Ambassador’ medal by the Chinese authorities no date has yet been set for the ceremony, let alone the place where it will be held.

Contacted by MaltaToday a Chinese embassy official confirmed that the date has not been established. "Discussions are going on with Dom Mintoff and it is up to him to decide. Mr Mintoff has done a lot for Maltese-Chinese relations," the official said.

Rumour has it that Mr Mintoff wants the ceremony to be held in Parliament rather then at Castille. But the former option does not seem to be a plausible venue for the Maltese authorities.

MaltaToday also contacted Mr Mintoff for his comments but the former premier would not talk to journalists over the phone. Similarly, questions faxed to the Office of the Prime Minister remained unanswered.

‘Il-perit’ had been the first European leader to visit China in 1972, soon after US President Richard Nixon. Dom Mintoff’s visit and the establishing of diplomatic relations with China had raised furore in Malta with the Nationalist party, then in opposition, conjuring up images of China colonising the Islands.

Despite the criticism levelled at Mr Mintoff 30 years ago, successive government administrations have sought to strengthen ties with China, due to the vast economic potential the communist country has.

According to the Chinese embassy, the medal being awarded to Mr Mintoff recognises the former Prime Minister’s historical contributions to the development of Sino-Maltese relations. It is also a sign of the friendship of the Chinese people towards the Maltese people.