ππππππππ HAILS MALAWI-CHINA PARTNERSHIP
President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has described China as a genuine friend and partner of Malawi.
The Malawi leader committed to maintaining open channels of engagement and addressing Chinaβs core interests, while also anticipating enhanced interaction under the newly announced Strategic Partnership arrangement.
Chakwera made these remarks during a meeting with Xi Jinping, President of the Peopleβs Republic of China, on Tuesday in Beijing ahead of the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit.
Among others the president expressed gratitude for China’s commitment to finalise preparatory work for the construction of the Judicial Complex in Lilongwe, following the signing of an agreement between the two governments.
βI must also thank Your Excellency for the continued support in various areas, such as debt restructuring, ongoing construction projects, scholarships, and capacity-building programs, as well as the various ways your esteemed nation has offered timely humanitarian assistance in the wake of climate-related disasters,β said Chakwera.
He emphasised that the Belt and Road Initiative presents a vital opportunity to bolster support for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
βThe establishment of a single African market, a beacon of hope, aligns with the mutual interests of African countries and China, holding the potential to foster global economic development through increased trade and investment flows,β he stated.
Chakwera added, βIn light of this, Malawi eagerly seeks to enhance our railway line connectivity with our neighbors to address the high cost of transportation, given our land-linked status.β
In his remarks, President Xi expressed Chinaβs readiness to deepen relations with Malawi to achieve a strategic partnership.
He commended President Chakwera for his efforts in implementing transformational development in Malawi.