Tai Chi Program Launched in Malta for Cultural Exchange

Santa Lucija, Malta — A Tai Chi training program was launched on Sunday at the Chinese Garden of Serenity, bringing together local enthusiasts for a vibrant cultural exchange experience. The event, co-hosted by the 20th Chinese medical team for Malta and the Chinese Community Association in Malta, included Tai Chi classes along with free clinic services.

Maria Farrugia, 60, participated in her first Tai Chi session and expressed her satisfaction. “I feel extremely relaxed after practicing Tai Chi. The movements suit me very well,” she said. Farrugia, inspired by her prior positive experience with acupuncture, noted that the session has intensified her interest in Chinese culture. “This has aroused my strong interest in Chinese culture. I will keep supporting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM),” she added.

Alan Saliba Gauci, 45, a coach and long-time Tai Chi club member who began practicing in 2002, emphasized the universal nature of martial arts. “I’m very interested in martial arts,” he stated. “Martial arts transcend the boundaries of nations and bring together different peoples.” Gauci plans to establish his own Tai Chi club in Malta to further promote the practice and enhance cultural exchange between the Maltese and Chinese communities.

According to Yang Libai, the leader of the Chinese medical team, additional training sessions will follow the Tai Chi program, including Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese aerobic exercise. Since its establishment in 1994 by the Chinese and Maltese governments, the Mediterranean Regional Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine has facilitated the provision of TCM treatments, with 20 Chinese medical teams comprising over 100 doctors having treated approximately 250,000 patients in Malta.