Used to working hard in his checkered career, Speaker of Maltese Parliament Angelo Farrugia said he was happy with the result of his visit to the Kingdom.

Farrugia, who had a hectic schedule, expressed gratitude to his Saudi hosts for the hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.

On the first day after his delegation’s arrival early this week, he met with Saudi officials to discuss bilateral issues.

He pitched Malta as neutral country having the same stand as Saudi Arabia on international issues, such as the so-called Islamic State, Syrian crisis and the Palestinian issue.

He met with the secretary-general of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies to discuss issues of common interest to the Kingdom and Malta.

This was followed by a tour of the center’s library and museum and other activities intended to make the first-ever visit of a Maltese Parliament speaker as meaningful as possible.

He also held talks with Shoura Council President Abdullah Al-Asheikh, who had invited him and his delegation to visit the Kingdom.

“To reciprocate him, I also invited a Shoura Council delegation that includes him to visit Malta,” Farrugia said.

He also attended a Shoura Council meeting.

He called on Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Farrugia described him as “charismatic and friendly.”

The delegation also met with the Saudi members of the Saudi-Maltese Friendship Committee.

On their last day in the Saudi capital, Farrugia met with Nizar Madani, state minister for foreign affairs.