Mutharika in SA for China-Africa summit: Returns to Malawi Sunday
President Peter Mutharika on Friday arrived in South Africa from the United Kingdom to attend the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit and will return home this Sunday, December 6, 2015
Mutharika left the country for Malta on November 21 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government (CHOGM) meeting.
At the end of CHOGM, the Malawi leader stopped in London, UK, where he performed a number of official engagements before proceeding to South Africa for the FOCAC summit.
FOCAC is an official forum between the People’s Republic of China and the states of Africa. About 50 countries on the continent at present have ties with China, including Malawi.
It was established in 2000 to promote bilateral ties and cooperation between China and Africa through dialogue.
Malawi is one of the African countries that have diplomatic ties with China, and has benefited a lot in development aid from Peking since the Southern African nation cut off relations with Taiwan in 1997.
China has financed big development projects such as the Karonga-Chitipa Road, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo, Bingu Stadium, new parliament building and Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe, each costing millions of dollars.
By 2000, China had helped developing countries construct and complete more than 2,000 projects closely linked to local people’s lives and production, covering industry, agriculture, culture and education, health care, communication, power supply, energy, transportation and others.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to announce at the FOCAC summit a substantial amount of new Chinese investment in Africa and other assistance to the continent.
The Johannesburg FOCAC summit is the first to be held on the continent.
Meanwhile, State Resident Press Officer Gloria Masanza-Kanyang’wa said in a statement,
The President is expected to arrive at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe at 3 O’clock in the afternoon.–Mana
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At least he is not coming on sabbath
Malawi cut relations with Taiwan in 2008 and NOT 1997. Check your facts.
APM mwatiyenjeza maulendo any ice tilibe nao chifukwa koma zomangopanga maulendo ma Sunday s sitikusangalala,ife tu timapemphera ngati inu simupemphera ndinu.maulendo one mumaika Sunday we say this is a God fearing nation yet u don’t give us environment to worship u mean u can’t come on Monday to in order for us to worship our Lord pliz mr HE we are pleading spair Sunday s mind u whenever u ve’ function institutions are involved nanga okuvinilani anthi akalephere kupeza madalotso kumipongo bcz of u think twice