Malawian president expresses thanks for China's support

Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika Tuesday expressed his sincere gratitude to China for its support for the Southern African country.


"The financial support from China will be granted in the form of concessionary loans over a five-year period," Mutharika told a press conference in the Malawian capital.

Mutharika, who paid his first visit to Beijing in late March, said China has pledged to offer financial aid in the next five years to several large projects in Malawi, including the construction of a 100-km road connecting Malawi's two northern districts of Chitipa and Karonga, and the parliament building in the capital.

Mutharika said Malawi now enjoys the preferential trade regime offered by China under the framework of the Africa-China Forum, which will boost significantly Malawi's exports to China.

The Malawian leader also defended his government's decision to establish diplomatic relations with China in late December, saying that the decision was among other factors based on the one China principle that have been adopted by the international community.