BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks in Beijing on Tuesday with Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika, who said his visit had unveiled a new chapter for enhancing bilateral ties.
The two countries established diplomatic ties in December last year. "This not only meets the fundamental interests of both countries and the two peoples, but also contributes to regional and world peace, stability and development," said Hu.
Mutharika said he was in China for friendship and cooperation, and expected to get support and cooperation from China for Malawi's poverty relief and development cause.
In response, Hu said the Chinese government was willing to develop long-term and healthy cooperative ties with Malawi on the basis of the one-China policy and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Mutharika reiterated his country's firm adherence to the one-China policy and the support for China's peaceful reunification.
Hu called on both countries to step up exchanges between leaders, government departments and ruling parties, support each other on major issues that concern respective core interests, enhance coordination on international and regional affairs and expand trade cooperation.
China has been supporting competent and reliable enterprises to invest in Malawi and seeking mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, fishery, mineral resources exploration and infrastructure construction, Hu said.
He also suggested that both sides should step up exchanges in culture, education, public health, media, youth and tourism.
Mutharika said Malawi was ready to cement cooperation with China in the areas of agriculture, electricity, transportation, mineral resources exploration and infrastructure construction.
He hoped the two peoples could enhance mutual understanding through youth and education exchanges.
When Malawi forged diplomatic relations with China on Dec. 28, it cut its 41-year-old ties with Taiwan.
Mutharika arrived on Monday afternoon for a weeklong state visit to China as Hu's guest.
He will also visit Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, and the cities of Shenzhen and Shanghai.
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Malawi resumes tobacco sales after suspension
Malawi's tobacco auction floors resumed sales on Tuesday after tobacco farmers forced a suspension last week in protest against a drop in prices, an auction spokesman said on Tuesday.
Auction Holding Limited spokesman Tim Kachitosi said tobacco farmers were back on the auction floors after reaching an understanding with buyers and other industry stakeholders.
"It was explained to the farmers that some of the tobacco that was on the floors was low grade and therefore did not deserve the prices they demanded," he said.
"Today the quality of tobacco being sold is good and the prices have reflected that ranging between $2 and $3 which is still above the government set minimum price of $2.20."
Malawi opened its tobacco auction season last week with prices at record highs. Farmers sold at between $6 and $11 per kg -- but sales on the market were suspended three days later after prices dropped to as low as 60 cents.
Tobacco accounts for over 70 percent of Malawi's exports and 15 percent of its gross domestic product. For the last two years low prices have led to suspensions of sales and cuts in production.
Tobacco farmer Wilson Chikalimba told Reuters he was happy with the explanation given by the authorities over why the crop fetched low prices on Thursday. "Today I am selling my tobacco because I know I will get around $2 and that is fine with me."
Most tobacco in Malawi is produced by peasant farmers. Over 2 million people in the small southern African nation earn a living from tobacco and other related industries.
Auction Holding Limited spokesman Tim Kachitosi said tobacco farmers were back on the auction floors after reaching an understanding with buyers and other industry stakeholders.
"It was explained to the farmers that some of the tobacco that was on the floors was low grade and therefore did not deserve the prices they demanded," he said.
"Today the quality of tobacco being sold is good and the prices have reflected that ranging between $2 and $3 which is still above the government set minimum price of $2.20."
Malawi opened its tobacco auction season last week with prices at record highs. Farmers sold at between $6 and $11 per kg -- but sales on the market were suspended three days later after prices dropped to as low as 60 cents.
Tobacco accounts for over 70 percent of Malawi's exports and 15 percent of its gross domestic product. For the last two years low prices have led to suspensions of sales and cuts in production.
Tobacco farmer Wilson Chikalimba told Reuters he was happy with the explanation given by the authorities over why the crop fetched low prices on Thursday. "Today I am selling my tobacco because I know I will get around $2 and that is fine with me."
Most tobacco in Malawi is produced by peasant farmers. Over 2 million people in the small southern African nation earn a living from tobacco and other related industries.
Malawi's striker joins third Bundesliga side
Germany based Malawi's striker Dan Chitsulo who was playing for second Bundesliga side VFL Osnabruck has signed for a third Bundesliga side Rot Weiss Ahlen with an aim of playing regularly.
After helping his second division side earn promotion last season, the former striker of Malawi's Civo United made a painful decision to move to the third division side.
"Since we were promoted, I was not playing so often because the club had signed alot of players. I wanted to play football and be a happy man because football is my life. That is why I decided to move," Chitsulo told Malawi's local daily of The Daily Times in a telephone interview from North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday.
The pint-sized striker, who joined the club in January has so far played five games and scored two goals.
The diminutive striker who has not played for Malawi national team aka the flames since 2005 said that he wanted to know as to what 'sin' he committed to be ignored by the flames current coach Stephen Costantine.
"Maybe people there know why I can't be allowed to play for my country. What wrong have I done to Costantine?" queried Chitsulo who last played for Flames in June 2005 in which the national team lost 1-3 to Botswana.
The player insisted that although he was back to the third division club, the league was still competitive.
His new team, based in Ahlen, is currently on fifth position but they are two points behind the league leaders.
Malawi's Football Association of Malawi(Fam) Chief Executive Charles Nyirenda said all foreign based players were eligible for selection adding that he was yet to find out as to why the former FC Cologne striker was not being considered for national team assignments.
Malawi opens embassy in China
Malawi's president Bingu Wa Mutharika left for Mainland China on Sunday where among other things he is expected to open the Southern Africa country's first embassy in Beijing on Wednesday.
Speaking to Journalists before his departure on Sunday, Mutharika described his visit to Mainland China, the first ever to be undertaken by a Malawian head of state and that it was historic.
Mutharika told the country's local daily of the Daily Times that he was going to Beijing at the invitation of Mainland China's president Hu Gjintao, just two months after the warm heart of Africa severed its 42 year diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, an Island China still claims as its part.
"I am looking forward to a useful cooperation," said the Malawi president.
While in China, the Malawi president who will open an embassy on Wednesday, is also expected to sign a number of agreements in various sectors of trade, agriculture, energy, economy, transport and health among others.
Malawi's capital Lilongwe and China's Beijing agreed to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level last year on December 28.
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