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(NYASATIMES) Malawi-China commemorates 2nd anniversary of ties

Malawi-China commemorates 2nd anniversary of ties
By Nyasa Times
Published: January 15, 2010

China says Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika made a wise decision to dump Taiwan and establish diplomatic ties with Mainland China. The remarks were made by Chinese ambassador to Malawi Lin Songtian at a luncheon reception organised to mark the second anniversary to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Malawi.

Nyasa Times were the first to report in December, 2008 that Malawi had severed ties with Taiwan and were switching for ‘rich’ China.

The two countries signed a five-point memorandum of understanding on 28 December, 2008 in Beijing between Malawi and China which called for the establishment of diplomatic ties, mutual and economical support–and the recognition of only one China and that Taiwan is an alienable part of China’s territory.

“On December 28th, 2007 H.E. Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, the State President of Malawi, made a wise and resolute decision to sever the so called ‘diplomatic relations’ with the Taiwan authority, and normalised diplomatic relations between our two countries, which drafted a new chapter of China-Malawi friendship and opened the gate for the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between our two countries,” Songtian said.

The Chinese envoy also commended the President’s brother, Prof Peter Mutharika who led government delegation that discussed formal ties with China.

Prof Mutharika –Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister – served as Chief Advisor to the State President on Constitutional, Legal and International Affairs during the time Malawi and China established diplomatic relations.

The Chinese are funding the construction of a 41-million-dollar ultramodern parliament in Malawi’s capital which is expected to be completed this year.

Malawi Parliament also authorized government to borrow 92.3 million dollars from the Export-Import Bank of China for the construction of the national stadium, whose seating capacity would be 40,000 people.

The national stadium project has closely followed signing of a pact between the two countries towards construction of an international conference centre and a five-star hotel in Lilongwe.

China is also funding the construction of Karonga-Chitipa road.

Labels: CHINA, MALAWI

posted by MrK @ 7:36 PM