China has committed to deepening its relations with Malawi through stronger cooperation in agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, and trade.
The assurance on Wednesday evening came as one of the global superpowers commemorated the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at a reception held at the Chinese Embassy in Lilongwe.
Delivering her keynote address, Ambassador Lu Xu said China’s transformation from poverty and disarray into the world’s second-largest economy was no accident, but a product of visionary leadership, disciplined governance, and people-centred development.
“Seventy-six years ago, China lay in poverty and weakness,” she said. “This nation did not rise by accident. It was the iron will of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that forged order from chaos, and it was the principle of people-centred development that became the true measure of our progress.”
Lu recalled the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malawi and China in 2007 under the leadership of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, noting that the partnership has matured into a comprehensive and strategic cooperation anchored on mutual respect and equal treatment.
She highlighted the writing off of $20 million of Malawi’s debt—the first and only bilateral restructuring concluded so far. China also supported construction of infrastructure such as the Parliament Building, the Umodzi Park comprising President Hotel, Bingu International Convention Centre and Presidential Villas as well as Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe and the Malawi University of Science and Technology in Thyolo.
Lu added that 90 percent of labour for these projects was local, reflecting China’s philosophy of empowerment over dependency.
Taking his turn, Foreign Affairs Minister George Chaponda said Malawi continues to benefit greatly from the relationship; hailing Beijing’s decision to cancel the $20 million debt as “a generous gesture demonstrating China’s continued commitment to supporting Malawi’s economic recovery and sustainable development”.
Chaponda. | Jacob Nankhonya
He said the government looks forward to expanding cooperation in ICT, green technology, agro-processing, and manufacturing as Malawi seeks to diversify its economy under Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development strategy.
“We remain firmly committed to the One-China Principle and to fostering an equal, respectful, and forward-looking partnership that benefits both our peoples,” he said.
And speaking in an interview, UTM
Party president Dalitso Kabambe, who also attended the event, described China’s economic transformation as nothing short of miraculous and urged Malawi to draw lessons from Beijing’s development path.
He said: “When Malawi gained independence, our per capita income was higher than China’s,” he observed. “But while China moved from about $20 per capita in 1964 to nearly $17 000 today, Malawi has only reached around $550. This is not because we lack resources, but because we have lacked focused leadership.”
Founded on October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China emerged from decades of civil war, foreign invasion, and social upheaval. Under the leadership of the CPC and its founding chairman Mao Zedong, the country embarked on a socialist reconstruction that sought to rebuild its shattered economy, unify its vast population, and assert independence from colonial influence.
