President Peter Mutharika arrived in the People’s Republic of China on Monday ahead of a five-day visit that should unveil the next phase of Chinese funded development projects in the country over the next five years.
Mutharika touched down through Dalian International Airport where he was welcomed by Dalian vice Mayor Liu Yan.
Top on Mutharika’s schedule is a bilateral meeting with Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang.
Speaking prior to Mutharika’s arrival, Minister of Foreign and International Cooperation George Chaponda described the visit as the start of yet another window of opportunities in the areas of development, trade and investment.
“Apart from holding bilateral talks with the prime minister, the President will meet investors that are already investing in Malawi and many of those that are intending to open investment projects in Malawi,” said Chaponda.
Chaponda added that Mutharika and Keqiang are expected to, among other things, discuss a new programme of Chinese funded projects.
Since dumping the island Taiwan for mainland China, Malawi has had a number of development projects initiated with funding from the Chinese government.
Among the development projects are the Karonga-Chitipa road which extends to the border with Zambia, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must), the presidential villas, a hotel and the Bingu International Conference Centre (Bicc).
Mutharika will also attend the global economic forum.
