Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met on Wednesday with Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat on the sidelines of the Summer Davos meeting, in Dalian of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Li hailed the increasing cooperation and mutual assistance between the two countries. He said China will work with Malta to enhance their cooperation in areas including trade, investment, energy, infrastructure and financial services.

The premier also vowed to promote cooperation between China and southern European countries, and push forward positive interaction between China and Malta, as well as the one between China and the European Union.

Muscat said the two countries had witnessed a smooth development of bilateral ties. Malta will comprehensively increase cooperation with China. It will also promote EU-China relations and ties between southern Europe and China.

Muscat is here to attend the annual meeting of Summer Davos, which opened on Wednesday. Li attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.