China and the European Union (EU) should strengthen dialogue and deepen cooperation as the two sides are faced with common challenges amid the financial crisis, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said in Malta on Saturday.

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Acting Maltese President George Hyzler in Valletta.

As the current financial crisis keeps spreading across the world, both China and EU should strengthen dialogue and deepen cooperation to tackle global problems, said the Chinese leader.

The Chinese side appreciates the efforts made by the Maltese government to promote the development of Sino-EU relations, Xi said. China hopes that the Maltese government will continue to play an active role in pushing forward the Sino-EU relations on a sound and stable track, he added.

Facing a tough international economic environment amid the global financial crisis, the Chinese government has taken a series of measures to ensure economic growth, such as expanding domestic demand and adjusting economic structure, Xi told his Maltese host.

"Our aim is to ease the crisis through bravely meeting the challenges," said the vice president. "We are confident of overcoming the difficulties we are facing, and of maintaining a relatively fast and stable economic growth."

Sino-Maltese relations have been developing very well in recent years and the two countries understand and support each other in major international and regional affairs, the Chinese leader told Hyzler. The two nations are "old friends and good friends," he stressed.

During the meeting, Hyzler said there has been a good cooperative relationship between Malta and China. Xi's visit to Malta shows that China is attaching great importance to bilateral relations, he added.

Later on, Xi met with Maltese Speaker of the House of Representatives Louis Galea. He expressed China's wish to further enhance parliamentary exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

The vice president also met with the island country's former president and opposition leader, and visited a local Chinese cultural center, where many Maltese study the Chinese language and culture.

Xi is on the last leg of a six-nation tour, which earlier brought him to Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. He is winding up his two-day visit to Malta on Sunday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2009)