‘Malawi must chart own economic path to progress’

To make economic progress, Malawi must chart its own path instead of copying other countries economic policies , Chinese economic experts told Malawian participants to the Youth and Sports Management seminar currently underway in Beijing, China.

Speaking on the theme, Economic Reform and Growth, and Opening Up and Economic Development of China yesterday, former Chinese ambassador to New Zealand and Belgium, Zhang Limin said national conditions vary from country to country; hence, there is no such thing as ‘fixed mode of development which claims to be effective one and applicable to all.’

“A path of development is viable only when it suits the national conditions of a country. For us to reach this stage and be world second largest economy, we had to chart a developmental path accordingly to the realities of our people. Malawi can do the same,” said Zhang.

Zhang said since embarking on economic reforms in 1978, China has pursued domestic independence in keeping with its national conditions.

Another former diplomat, Zhang Yuanyuan, who is now working at the Ministry of commerce in China said his country suffered a setback at some stage.

“At some stage because of our close diplomatic relations with the then Soviet Union, we made mistake by applying the economic system of that country in our our economy. But later, with the insight of China’s chief architect of reforms and opening up Deng Xiaoping, brought about the concept of pursuing peaceful development, which applying economic policies that can work in China,” he said.