China, Malawi to strengthen relations

Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, Malawi's president, said on Tuesday that his country is ready to take its cooperation with China to the next level.

Speaking after officially receiving Letters of Credence from Lu Xu, the new Chinese ambassador to Malawi, in the capital Lilongwe, Chakwera said that Malawi is ready to work with China to continuously expand practical cooperation for further enhancement of their bilateral relations.

While conveying his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, Chakwera spoke highly of the valuable support that China has rendered to the development of Malawi and reiterated Malawi's adherence to the one-China principle, according to a statement released after the meeting.

On her part, Lu underscored her role in fostering a strong bilateral relationship between China and Malawi, built on the foundation of Malawi's adherence to the one-China principle. Lu pledged to deepen Malawi-China cooperation, emphasizing economic ties and cultural exchange.

"We have discussed developmental agendas with President Chakwera, for instance, building economic relationships. I will encourage my people to come to Malawi and invest in different sectors," Lu said.

"My focus will be on strengthening our diplomatic relationship, fostering economic cooperation, and encouraging more Chinese investors to explore opportunities in Malawi. Additionally, I will promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding," she added.

Lu pointed out that under the guidance of the strategic road map drawn up by the leaders of the two countries, China-Malawi relations have developed healthily and rapidly, with fruitful achievements in various fields, winning the true hearts of their two peoples.

Lu further articulated the need for building strong political relations between the two countries so that they can have a solid foundation for their bilateral ties.

She also emphasized her focus on implementing the consensus reached between President Xi and Chakwera during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last year.

Nancy Tembo, Malawi's minister of foreign affairs, hailed China as a reliable partner, citing its significant contributions to Malawi's infrastructure and development.

She also reiterated the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations.

"China has been instrumental in Malawi's progress, supporting key projects such as the Parliament Building, Bingu International Conference Center, major road networks, and Malawi University of Science and Technology," she noted.

China and Malawi's relations have been strengthening over the years, with initiatives such as the completion of a feasibility study for the construction of the Judicial Complex in Lilongwe and the implementation of Phase II of the National Fibre Backbone.