(December 18, 2015, Chinese Ambassador's Residence)

Honourable George Chaponda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Guest of Honor

Honourable Ministers and Government Officials

Friends from the media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to tonight's reception. There are two topics for the reception, one is to celebrate the 8th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malawi, the other one is to brief you on Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which was held recently in Johannesburg, South Africa. These two topics are independent but also closely linked, both of which deserve to be celebrated, discussed and explored.

Eight years ago, the leaders of China and Malawi, from a strategic height and long-term perspective, decided to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries. From then on, cooperation has developed rapidly and produced fruitful results in various fields with the joint efforts of both sides. Malawi has become a partner of China in Africa. That has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, and laid a solid foundation for the further development of our relationship. The exchange of high-level visits and political interaction have enhanced mutual trust, and formed a consensus between the leaders of the two countries. Steady and healthy development of bilateral relations is conducive to the interests of the two peoples.In September this year, H.E. Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi attended the Ninth Summer Davos Forum in Dalian, China. There he met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and they had extensive and in-depth exchange of ideas on China-Malawi relations as well as other issues of shared interests. Besides, in May this year, Mr. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress visited Malawi. This was a delegation of the highest level since the establishment of our diplomatic relations. In August, the Malawi multi-party delegation visited China, and attended China-African People's Forum and China-Northeast Asia Expo. High-level exchanges contribute to the further development of bilateral relations.

On the economic front, trade and investment have witnessed consistent growth, and projects have progressed steadily. Trade volume between China and Malawi has risen from 43 million US dollars in 2007 to 250 million US dollars last year. More and more Chinese enterprises and businessmen have come to invest in Malawi, providing local people with employment opportunities, facilitating local people's life, and also creating a booming market. In August this year, Mr. Qian Keming, Vice Commerce Minister of China visited Malawi, and held the first session of the Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation with the Malawi side. Also, the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in Salima and China-Malawi Agricultural Technical Cooperation Farm in Lilongwe were completed and inaugurated in succession in September. The Parliament Building, Bingu International Conference Center, Presidential Villas, and five-star hotel have become the landmarks of Lilongwe, improved the city's outlook, and attracted more tourists and investors. Karonga-Chitipa Road in the north and Malawi University of Science and Technology in the south have also played important roles. Moreover, the national stadium project in Lilongwe, which is close to completion, will bring more joy to the Malawians.

In terms of cultural exchange, interaction between the two countries has become more and more intense. Malawi became the third largest recipient country of China human resources training programmes, and more than 500 Malawian people on various short-term study tours in China this year alone. In addition, 37 Malawians have received China Government Scholarships. Examples of other activities are just too many to be exhausted. At present, the two countries are fostering links of all aspects, deepening friendship and cooperation, and exploring a path that can lead up to Malawi's economic and social development as well as more input from the Chinese government. Looking forward to the future, we have reason to believe that China-Malawi relations will be closer, and the exchanges under the framework of China-Africa cooperation will be more positive and active. Therefore, we have every reason to celebrate for the results we have achieved since the establishment of diplomatic relations eight years ago. We should proceed with the faith that tomorrow will be better.

While summarizing the achievements we have scored in the past one year since I became the Chinese ambassador to Malawi, I am also thinking about the way forward. How can we deepen the relations between the two countries? What should each party do to promote bilateral relations? Currently consensus has been reached and foundation has been laid, and what matters most is the action because now time is ripe. On one hand, Malawi has the desire to develop and has opened up herself to the outside. On the other hand, China has economic capability, making headway on China-Africa cooperation. The Johannesburg summit from December 4^th to 5^th is the milestone of China-Africa relations. I'm sure every one of you was following what happened in the summit. And you must be encouraged by the opportunities, Malawi will benefit from. In my opinion, we should first of all understand the purpose and grasp the spirit of the summit, before we can find a starting point to make a breakthrough.

Now, please allow me to make a brief introduction of the summit. The summit was a truly historic grand event with a clear-cut theme, high attendance and rich activities. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a series of important statements during the summit, comprehensively and systematically elaborating the new thoughts, new concepts, new policies, and new initiatives of developing China-Africa relations. Consensuses reached during the summit are as follows:

First, the summit gave prominence to the theme "China and Africa Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development". That is the new concept of China-Africa cooperation. China and Africa Progressing Together, highlights the long history of traditional friendship and mutual support between China and Africa. Win-Win Cooperation provides the strong impetus for the development of China-Africa relations, and Common Development will open a new chapter for China-Africa relations.

Second, the summit elevated China-Africa relations to the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to reflect the strategic character of bilateral relations more precisely, and lead the development of China-Africa cooperation more vigorously.

Third, the summit cemented five major pillars for China-Africa relations. President Xi Jinping proposed that China and Africa should seek equality and mutual trust in politics, win-win cooperation in economy, mutual learning in civilization, mutual assistance in security, and unity and coordination in international affairs. The five pillars charted a more complete blueprint of China-Africa relations, laid a more solid foundation for China-Africa relations, and offered an all-round support for China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.

Fourth, the summit determined ten key cooperation plans to promote comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between China and Africa. China will carry out practical cooperation with Africa in the next three years, in the ten major fields of industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, finance, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and people's welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges, as well as peace and security. To ensure the successful implementation of these ten cooperation plans, China decided to provide a total of 60 billion US dollars of funding support. It includes 5 billion US dollars of grant and zero-interest loans; 35 billion US dollars of loans of concessional nature on more favorable terms and export credit line; an increase of 5 billion US dollars to the China-Africa Development Fund and the Special Loan for the Development of African Small and Medium enterprises respectively; and the China-Africa Fund for Production Capacity Cooperation with an initial contribution of 10 billion US dollars.

Here I would like emphasize that China and Africa decided to seize the opportunity of combing the development strategies of both sides, which is one of the most important consensus of the summit. With mutual political trust and economic complementarity, China will actively promote industry partnering and production capacity cooperation between China and Africa and vigorously remove the three bottlenecks of backward infrastructure and insufficient talents and shortage of fund. China will focus on helping the African countries build the three systems of industrialization, food security and public health prevention and control, so as to work out the three major problems of employment, food and health. The development of China will be closely integrated with boosting Africa's development, so that both sides can achieve Win-Win Cooperation and Common Development.

The summit also reviewed and passed the outcome documents, namely Declaration of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Johannesburg Action Plan (2016-2018). The Declaration reflects the consensus of the two sides for the construction of China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership and jointly promote the democratization of international relations and modernization of governance system, expounds the significance of comprehensive development of China-Africa cooperation, for China-Africa relations in the future development direction. "Action plan" focuses on planning and guidance over the next three years China-Africa cooperation, and puts forward the main goal of the cooperation and the specific measures.

Over the past 60 years, especially since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China-Africa relations have witnessed significant development. The China-Africa relations usher in the new era of win-win cooperation and common development. The Chinese side stands ready to, in the principle of "raised, agreed and led by Africa", carry out trilateral cooperation with other partners of Africa, so as to join hands to make greater contributions to the peace, stability, and prosperity in Africa. China will firmly implement the policy of "sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith" towards Africa put forward by President Xi Jinping, uphold the correct viewpoint of righteousness and benefit, and work with the African friends to promote common development. On China-Africa relations, there are four "never change":

First, regardless of the highly volatile international situation, the brotherhood based on equality, mutual trust and mutual support between China and Africa will never change;

Second, regardless of the ups and downs of economic situation, the fundamental purpose of win-win cooperation and common development between China and Africa will never change;

Third, regardless of the society development and times changes, the group synergy of mutual understanding and common progress between China and Africa will never change;

Fourth, regardless of the difficulties and threats, the firm will of sharing weal and woe between China and Africa will never change.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I hope that China-Malawi relations can avail of the opportunity of Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to deepen the bilateral practical cooperation, create a new situation of win-win cooperation and common development. I would like to work with Malawi to discuss further on that.

The New Year is right around the corner, and I'd like to take this opportunity to extend you greetings and wish everyone a happy New Year!

Thank you!