RIYADH: Malta and Saudi Arabia will work to boost business-to-business interactions and seek opportunities for mutual investment for further growth and economic development, Maltese Ambassador Martin Valentino said on Thursday.

Speaking at a ceremony here to mark Malta's National Day, which falls on September 21, he also hailed the two countries' educational ties.

“On this important occasion, may I convey my best wishes of well-being, prosperity and friendship to the Maltese and Saudi peoples and to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman,” the envoy said.

Earlier, the embassy held a reception and Valentino thanked Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar for gracing the occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta and the Foster Clark Products Ltd.

Valentino recalled Maltese Speaker of the House of Representatives Angelo Farrugia's visit to Saudi Arabia, during which important talks were held.

“We look forward to reciprocate the hospitality extended to the Maltese parliamentary delegation with the visit to Malta of a Saudi Shoura Council delegation that would include members of the Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Committee,” he said.

He said the rector of the University of Malta also visited the Kingdom, during which talks were held at the King Khaled University for a possible collaboration between the two universities.

Valentino said the talks also included the admission for the second consecutive year of Saudi students to the University of Malta for the academic year 2015-2016.

Another important development in “bringing forward our bilateral relations was the holding this year in Riyadh of the session of the Joint Commission between Malta and Saudi Arabia,” he added.