Chakwera to attend Africa-China Economic and Trade Expo in China

The State President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera is expected to leave to country for Hunan Province, China to attend the Africa- China Economic and Trade Expo.

The Expo which will be held in Changsha City from 29th June to 2nd July 2023 and will be held under the theme of “Common Development for a Shared Future.”

According to the press statement released by the ministry of foreign affairs, the visit by the President is marked as a historic one as it is for the first time for the President to attend the Expo since assuming the presidency in 2020.

“The visit will, therefore, consolidate Malawi’s diplomatic ties with China and reaffirm the strategic economic and trade partnership between the two countries,” reads the statement in part.

The Expo is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) and the People’s Government of Hunan Province.

As a biennial gathering, the Expo plays a crucial role in establishing a new mechanism for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. It serves as a platform for implementing economic and trade initiatives under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), while also acting as a window for sub-national-level engagement in China-Africa economic and trade collaboration.

The focus of this year’s Expo will be on the “Nine Programs” for China-Africa cooperation outlined by FOCAC. These programs encompass a wide range of areas, including medical and health, poverty reduction and agricultural development, trade promotion, investment promotion, digital innovation, green development, capacity building, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and peace and security.

To facilitate robust participation, the Expo will host a diverse array of events in various formats. It aims to attract a multitude of attendees to Changsha, including Chinese and African dignitaries, diplomats, representatives from international organizations, financial institutions, business associations, chambers of commerce, media professionals, entrepreneurs, as well as experts and scholars.

With its comprehensive agenda and esteemed participants, the 3rd China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha promises to be an influential platform for fostering collaboration and driving forward the common development and shared future between China and Africa.