Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Shi-Ting Wang at the Opening Ceremony of the China-Malawi Production Capacity Cooperation and Investment Forum
(Conference Centre, Golden Peacock Hotel, 21 June 2016)
2016-06-22 18:00

  Your Excellency, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi,  

  Your Excellency Vice Governor of Anhui Province, Mr. Song Weiping,  

  Your Honourable Ministers and Diplomatic Envoys,  

  Friends of the Business Communities from China and Malawi,  

  Ladies and Gentlemen,  

    

  Good morning! It gives me great pleasure to attend the China-Malawi Investment Forum. This forum is the concrete action implementing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s policy towards Africa. This forum is the follow-up action of His Excellency President Arthur Peter Mutharika’s visit to Anhui Province last August. It is also a concrete measure to implement the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. First, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Malawi, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to H.E. President Arthur Peter Mutharika and the Malawian government for the strong support to the forum and extend my warm welcome to the 300-plus friends of business communities both from China and Malawi.  

  Thirty years after the Reform and Opening-up, China now has become the second largest economy. It ranks the first in terms of goods trade and manufacturing industry. The manufacturing value added accounts for 1/5 of the world’s total. The output of 200-plus industrial products tops the world. China has a large number of competitive industries, and has the ability to provide advanced equipments and products.  

  On the other hand, African countries are usually faced with bottlenecks of inadequate infrastructure, lack of professional and skilled personnel. It is their keen hope to grasp the historic opportunity of China’s fast development and enhance their cooperation with China, so as to increase the value added of primary products and facilitate the industrialization process of their countries. China-Africa cooperation can produce mutual benefits and multiple win-win outcomes at one stroke.  

  Your Excellency Mr. President,   

  Ladies and Gentlemen,  

  There are more than 50 countries in Africa. Why is Malawi chosen as the place to hold this investment forum? Why Malawi?  

  First, China and Malawi are good friends. We enjoy good relations, which are moving fast and maintaining sound growth. We have been firmly support each other in the area of international relations, and respect the core interests of each other.  

  Second, there are lots of investment opportunities in Malawi. Malawi is a country with abundant natural resources, tourist attractions and pleasant weather. Malawian people are peace-loving, kind and friendly. For that, Malawi is known as the “warm heart of Africa”. Under the leadership of H.E. President Arthur Peter Mutharika, Malawi also enjoys political stability. Malawi has a population of about 17 million, 80% of which are young people, which produces great demographic dividend.  

  You may have another question. There are more than 30 provinces in China. Why it is Anhui Province that visits Malawi this time? Why Anhui?  

  The most important reason is the strong personal promotion by H.E. President Arthur Peter Mutharika. Last year, H.E. President paid a visit to Anhui Province. Before I came to Malawi, I also went to Anhui Province to actively facilitate this forum.   

  Anhui is one of the most important provinces in China. It lies in the middle with a population of about 70 million. In 2015, the GDP of Anhui was 350 billion US dollars, which is the same size that of Africa. Anhui is an important base of agricultural products, energy, raw materials and manufacturing industry. It occupies an important position in the areas of automobile, mechanics, household appliances, chemical engineering, and agricultural products processing.  

  The potential of cooperation between China and Malawi is huge. China has a great number of advantageous industries. Both the Chinese companies and capitals have the will to go global. The development of Malawi is in high need of advanced technology, equipment and capital support. We have so much to offer to each other. The economic and trade cooperation has a very promising future.  

  Your Excellency Mr President,  

  Ladies and Gentlemen,  

  China-Africa cooperation now faces great opportunity of development. Last December, the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held, which depicted the magnificent blueprint of China-Africa cooperation. China and Africa agreed to implement ten cooperation plans, which include industrialization plan, agricultural modernization plan, infrastructure plan, financial plan, green development plan, trade and investment facilitation plan, poverty-reduction plan, public health plan, cultural and people-to-people plan and peace and security plan. Pragmatic cooperation will be carried out in the above-mentioned areas. To ensure the successful implementation of these ten cooperation plans, China decides to provide a total of 60 billion US dollars of funding support.  

  The 60 billion US dollars of funding include not only grant and concessional loans, but also commercial funds and loans. The grant and concessional loans are decided by the Chinese and recipient government. With regard to the commercial funds and loans, they are already allocated there, waiting for the application. They need the active participation of enterprises, especial those from private sectors. This part of capital can be understood as the investment.  

  Fundamentally speaking, what a country need for development is investment, rather than donation. Donation can only solve immediate problems, while investment focuses more on long-term development. Investment environment is the key to attract investors. As a Chinese idiom goes, if you want to attract the phoenix, you must first have a beautiful and comfortable nest.  

  To attract the investors, many African countries have come up with favourable policies, so does the Malawian government. We sincerely hope that the Malawian government, just like other African countries, can introduce more favourable policies and measures to facilitate trade and investment, so as to not only attract investors from China, but also from other countries in the world. An even more conducive environment will attract more investors, create more jobs opportunities. And the real   

  In conclusion, I want to say that China attaches great importance to China-Malawi Relations. We will jointly work with Malawi and seize the opportunities brought by the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC, strengthen our cooperation and bring more benefits to our people. I also want to tell the entrepreneurs from China that Malawi has a great room for appreciation and potential for development. I hope and I believe that all the Chinese entrepreneurs can find the suitable investment opportunities here in Malawi. I wish this investment forum a complete success.   

  Thank you!  

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