Dear Friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

October 1 marks the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). 

During the 73 years, China has achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong, has created two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, and has embraced its rejuvenation which is an unstoppable historical force under the leadership of the Communist Party of China(CPC). Especially since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has united the Chinese people and led them in fulfilling the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled, and in embarking on a new journey towards the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a modern socialist country.

As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year, it continues to pose a grave threat to people’s health and the global economy. Facing this centurial test, China adopted extensive, stringent, and thorough containment measures, and has for now succeeded in cutting all channels of transmission of the COVID-19 virus by making people’s lives and health its first priority. And China has done its best to provide support to the international community’s endeavors to stem the pandemic. At the same time, China has coordinated epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development and achieved remarkable results. In the first half of this year, the GDP of China grew by 2.5% year-on-year, and the economy achieved positive growth in the second quarter, with major economic indicators rebounded from June.

In October this year, the 20th CPC National Congress will be held in Beijing, China. The 20th CPC National Congress is a congress of great significance to be convened at a crucial moment, as the whole Party and the entire nation embark on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects, and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal. At the conference, the CPC will fully review the major achievements made and valuable experience gained in China’s reform and development endeavors. It will also formulate programs of action and overarching policies to meet China’s new development goals on the journey ahead in the new era and the new expectations of the people, for developing the cause of the Party and the country in the next five years or even longer periods to come.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Malawi. In December 2007, China and Malawi established diplomatic relations on the political basis of one-China principle. There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. We appreciate that the Malawian government has been adhering to this principle and supporting China’s great cause of reunification.

Over the past 15 years, China-Malawi relations have witnessed sound and rapid development. Political mutual trust of our countries has been continuously consolidated, and practical cooperation has continued to advance. We are not only good friends who work together hand in hand, but also good brothers who share weal and woe. In August last year, H.E. President Xi Jinping held a phone conversation with H.E. President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. The phone conversation set the direction for the development of China-Malawi relations. This year, H.E. Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, held a video meeting with Rt. Honourable Catherine Gotani-Hara, Speaker of Parliament of Malawi. The Malawi-China Parliamentary Friendship Group of Parliament of Malawi was officially launched. Exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of our two countries have further enriched the substance of the bilateral relations. 

China has always supported Malawi in independently exploring a development path that suits its own national conditions, and never attached any political conditions to our support and assistance. In February this year, the southern part of Malawi were badly hit by floods as a result of Tropical Cyclone Ana. The Chinese government extended a helping hand and donated 129 million Kwacha as disaster relief to Malawi. In August this year, Hon. Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Finance of Malawi and I signed agreements on three cooperation projects: maintenance of the Parliament Building, feasibility study on the Judicial Complex and granting Zero Tariff Treatment to Products under 98 Percent of Taxable Items of Malawi. We sincerely wish that under the leadership of H.E. President Chakwera, Malawi will continue to achieve remarkable outcomes in various fields of social economic development and people's well-being. We believe that in the foreseeable future, Malawi, the "warm heart of Africa", will become the "development center of Africa". China will never be absent in Malawi's development.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

At present, the Covid-19 Pandemic and the great changes of the world pattern are intertwined, the global economic recovery is unbalanced, the North-South gap continues to grow, and the food and energy security is undermined. All these elements have posed unprecedented challenges to all countries in the world, especially developing countries including China and Malawi. Some developed countries have undermined justice for their own interests, politicized human rights and other issues, and created divisions and confrontations. They have broken WTO rules and blocked global supply chains, becoming a force against globalization. 

China pursues the greater public good and shared interests, actively promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and brings new opportunities to the world with China’s new development. China proposed the "Global Development Initiative" so as to leave no one behind and the "Global Security Initiative", aiming to create a new path to security that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum. China is willing to work with Malawi for common development and to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

At the new starting point of China-Malawi relations, China is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Malawi in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and in alignment with the Malawi Vision 2063, so as to bring more benefits to our two peoples. Finally, let us wish the People’s Republic of China a happy 73rd birthday, wish for the prosperity of China and Malawi, the happiness and well-being of the two peoples, and the long-lasting friendship between our two countries!