VALLETTA — A chamber concert themed Melody of the Orient was held on Wednesday night in San Anton Palace, the official residence of the president of Malta.

Hosted by the China International Culture Association, the event was co-organized by the China Cultural Centre in Malta and the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater.

At the concert, Belgian pianists and composers Jean-Francois Maljean and Johan Famaey and the Belart Female String Quartet consisting of Chinese and Belgian musicians played classic pieces as well as new productions from Europe and China, which were warmly welcomed by the audience.

"We should deepen cultural cooperation ... (and) effectively resolve differences and contradictions through active communication, so as to narrow the distance between people of different countries and enhance their friendship," said Peng Yijun, political advisor of the Chinese embassy in Malta.

Reno Calleja, president of the Malta-China Friendship Society, reviewed China's assistance to Malta and the friendship between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, and expected bilateral ties to be further strengthened.

Over the past 50 years, cultural exchanges between China and Malta have flourished and played an important role in consolidating friendship between the two countries, said Yuan Yuan, director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta.

As part of its Europe tour this year, the "Melody of the Orient" chamber concert has been held in Belgium and France. Its next and final stop will be Luxembourg.