President Chakwera arrives in China, meets Chinese Veep

Beijing, September 2: Mana: Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, Han Zheng, has hailed President Lazarus Chakwera for enhancing relations between the two countries.

Zheng was speaking Monday evening at the Diaoyutai State Guest House when he held bilateral talks with President Chakwera and also hosted him and his delegation to a welcome dinner for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

“We are pleased to welcome you again to China for the Focac Summit. This comes after meeting you during your successful visit in June last year when you delivered the keynote address at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE).

“Relations between our two countries continue to improve and President Xi Jinping looks forward to further discussing more areas of cooperation with you tomorrow during your meeting,” said Zheng.

President Chakwera hailed the support from China and the ever-improving relations between Malawi and China that were formally established in 2008.

Said Chakwera: Malawi is incredibly thankful to China for its generous support of numerous influential projects in our country, facilitated through grants and concessional loans during our nearly two decades of diplomatic relations.”

China has successfully implemented vital infrastructure projects in transportation, education, healthcare and energy. This includes the duplication of the M1 road from Mchinji Roundabout to Kanengo, through grant funding, and the National Fibre Backbone Project II through a concession loan.

The president also hailed the Chinese government which has already conducted a feasibility study for the construction of the Judiciary Complex in Lilongwe through grant financing which he said Malawi awaits a positive response.

Chakwera also expressed Malawi’s support for the inclusion of the Belt and Road Initiative in this year’s FOCAC Summit as particularly it emphasizes infrastructure development and regional connectivity projects.

The 2024 FOCAC Summit will among others focus on building relations and cooperation in supporting Africa’s industrialization, energy and trade as a priority, talent development, accelerating agricultural modernization, belt and road cooperation and agenda 2063 of the African Union, modernization and mutual learning among civilizations, political, peace, and security cooperation as well as poverty reduction.

President Chakwera arrived in Beijing China through the Beijing Capital International Airport earlier on Monday and was welcomed by among others Cao Shumin, Head of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Beijing Municipal Vice Chairman, Mr. Han, Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo and Malawi Ambassador to China Allan Chintedza.

The President is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday and is expected to hold meetings with various industry captains and partners with a view of fostering developments in Malawi.

Focac was instituted in 2020 to foster relations between China and the 53 African nations and the African Union (AU) and is held every six years while the minister’s conference is held every three years.