Lilongwe, Malawi – Malawi’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Allan Chintedza, has expressed confidence in the outcomes of the upcoming 4th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. The summit, scheduled to take place from September 4th to 6th in Beijing, China, aims to establish a new framework for cooperation between China and African nations following the expiration of the previous one.
Ambassador Chintedza highlighted Malawi’s keen interest in leveraging the summit to explore opportunities in agriculture, mining, and tourism. These sectors are central to the country’s economic diversification efforts, as outlined by President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. “We must ensure that our priorities are reflected in the agreed-upon outcomes of this summit,” said Ambassador Chintedza.
The Malawi envoy emphasized the importance of President Chakwera’s acceptance of the invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. This participation will allow Malawi to actively contribute to discussions on agricultural modernization, tourism, and mining, key areas of focus for the country.
Prior to the Heads of State and Government meeting, senior officials and ministers will gather on September 1st and 2nd, respectively, to discuss technical and policy issues. The 2024 FOCAC summit will address a wide range of topics, including industrialization, energy, trade, talent development, agricultural modernization, Belt and Road cooperation, African Union’s Agenda 2063, and poverty reduction.
President Chakwera is arrived in China on Monday and held bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping. He also met with various industry leaders and partners to explore opportunities for development in Malawi. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo, and the Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda, will participate in the ministerial conference to develop the new cooperation framework.
The FOCAC, established in 2000, serves as a platform for fostering relations between China and the 53 African nations, as well as the African Union. The summit is held every six years, while the ministerial conference takes place every three years.
