Valletta, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The General Post Office of Malta, the city of Santa Lukia**, and the Malta Chinese Association jointly held a Chinese zodiac stamp issuance ceremony at the "Jing Garden", a classical Chinese garden located in the city, on March 6.
On March 6, guests attended the Chinese Zodiac stamp issuance ceremony in Santa Lucia, Malta. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Jonathan Borg).
This is the first time since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia in 1972 that a Chinese New Year-themed stamp has been issued. The stamp features a dragon and auspicious clouds, and each stamp has a face value of 3 euros (about 23.5 yuan).
Joseph Saeed, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Malta General Post Office, said he has a keen interest in Chinese culture and is a philatelic enthusiast himself. The issue of the Year of the Dragon stamp is a tribute to Malaysia-China philatelic enthusiasts, hoping to strengthen the deep friendship between the two countries through a small stamp.
Event participants view Chinese zodiac stamps at a ceremony for the issuance of Chinese zodiac stamps in Santa Lucia, Malta, on March 6. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Jonathan Borg).
Maltese designer Fabio Agius is the person in charge of the design of the Zodiac stamps. He said that the stamp design combines the Chinese dragon with the "Jing Yuan", and adopts the pattern of Chinese auspicious clouds and jade pendants, showing the meaning of auspiciousness and soaring in the Year of the Dragon to the world.
It is reported that the Malta General Post Office will issue Chinese zodiac stamps in the future in accordance with the order of the Chinese zodiac. Saeed said the stamps would help strengthen the historical, cultural and economic ties between Malaysia and China.