China and Malawi: Friends with benefits
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda has described Malawi and China’s ties as being beneficial to the two countries.
He made the remarks at the Chinese Ambassador’s residence in Lilongwe last Friday when Chinese and Malawi governments celebrated their seven years of bilateral ties and pledged to support each other in the years to come.
The two governments established bilateral relations on December 28 2007 after Malawi switched ties from Taiwan.
He said within the seven-year period, China has helped Malawi in a number of areas such as education, health and defence.
“Today, we have no doubt that the decision [to switch diplomatic ties] was made for a good cause, especially looking at what China has done to this country,” said Chaponda.
He said among the notable projects that China has given to Malawi include the construction of the Chitipa-Karonga Road, Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must), the Parliament Building, National Stadium, Five Star Hotel and Presidential Villas.
Chaponda said that to further strengthen the bilateral relations, the two countries are engaged in further talks on what could be done in the future.
He said the construction of the new Malawi Defence Forces (MDF) headquarters was one of the projects China was willing to start soon.
“As a country, we submitted our new projects and we are currently discussing on what should start first,” he said.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Qingyang said since the establishment of diplomatic ties, development projects have fast-tracked in Malawi.
He said this was a reflection of sincerity, real results affinity and good faith, representing the four pillars of china’s foreign policy towards Africa.
Zhang said China supports Malawi in exploring a development path that suits its national conditions.
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Let us not start with the Military Headqtrs. One guy mentioned electricity and I fully agree with him. If we invest in energy a lot more developments will take place. Atupele Muluzi has just said Malawi’s development future is in Mining. We all know that mining can not happen if there’s no energy. So its only important for the Chapondas to critically think about electricity than the military headqtrs. Moreover Tanzania is no longer threating us. Let’s ask China to improve the energy output.
China must help Malawi on electricity, we are so tired of load shading which is every minute problem.
if you,are discussing which development project to start with, i sugest to start with bulding millitary capabillity of Malawi Defence Force,with high Tech weapons.
Wow
the way Malawi turned its back on Taiwan shows a lack of loyalty and the propensity to have its alliance traded like a cheap commodity. If ever there was a nation who flashed more money than China, i believe we would be in their pockets next without hesitation. That’s not how a developing country should go about building robust diplomatic ties.
Koma ma black out tatopa nawo. A China tithandizeni.
lam stupid l dont reason when giving comments.
Keep It up! China.
Jealous down. China has given us real human development in the MUST. Nanga ife tawapatsa chani? Makantini ali kuno ku Kasungu akupindulira ma China okha? Give credit where it is due.
We can’t say that Malawians are benefiting from this tie you know fellow Malawian the Chinese are doing war against the world but secretery how ever we people we don’t know what they are after despite the known politician sending their children to study there, how many children for the poor are sent to study there.and when so called infrastructure aid is in progress you want see son of poor man getting enough wages but in return poverty strikes and yet the politician children you will not see them working at such site and also the Chinese they come in… Read more »