Malawi can count on ‘reliable’ China for economic independence- Foreign Minister

As Malawi is facing slowing economy with commodities tanking due to continued aid freeze by Western donors,  China has given the southern African nation an assurance that it is “realiable” and “ideal” partner  committed to funding key infrastructure developments. [caption id="attachment_102587" align="alignright" width="600"] Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Malawi Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda attend a press conference after their meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi on Jan. 31, 2016. [Photo Xinhua][/caption]Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who visited Malawi’s capital oin Sunday, said China remains committed in supporting Malawi to achieve economic independence. "We can see that after eight years' of development of the bilateral relations, we are now entering a new stage of mutually beneficial cooperation. In this new stage, we will follow the general guideline defined at the China-Africa Cooperation Forum summit, and help Malawi enhance its ability of independent development, accelerate its industrialization process and achieve economic development in all areas,” the Chinese Foreign Minister said. Wang metMalawi's President Peter Mutharika and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda for talks. Their talks centred on implementing the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit for China-Africa Cooperation, and aligning priorities for future cooperation. Wang also said China is an ideal partner for Malawi. "On the basis of Malawi's political independence, China is ready to be the most reliable and the most ideal cooperation partner of Malawi in its process of really holding its economic destiny in its own hands," he said. Mutharika applauded the Chinese Government for playing a significant role in transforming Malawi’s socio-economic landscape since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 27th December, 2007. Malawi, which depends on mostly Western donors to bankroll most of its development programs, has benefitted a lot of infrastructure development with support of the Chinese – of course most on long term loans. Several Western donor nations are withholding aid to Malawi in reaction to a growing scandal over government graft known as Cashgate. Notable projects that China has helped Malawi include the New Parliament building, Karonga-Chitipa –Road and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) with a 80 million U.S. dollars loan. The university has been operating since 2014. A national sports stadium will be opened in the capital Lilongwe this year. China has also provided Malawi  a credit line of 25 million U.S. dollars in aid for which Lilongwe officials will propose a number of social projects, particularly the building of schools to tap the fund.