Friday, January 15, 2010

Chinese envoy salutes Prof Peter Mutharika

Professor Peter Mutharika has enough reason to smile after gaining international praise from a world super power like the Peoples Republic of China. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Dickson Kashoti

The Chinese ambassador to Malawi Lin Songtian has commended Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor Peter Mutharika for successfully leading a high level four member cabinet delegation that led to the present relationship between Malawi and China two years ago 14th January.

Songtian said this on Thursday at a luncheon reception organised to mark the second anniversary to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Malawi.

The function was held at the Sunbird Capital hotel in the administrative capital, Lilongwe.

“On December 28th, 2007 H.E. Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, the State President of Malawi, made a wise and resolute decision to sever the so called ‘diplomatic relations’ with the Taiwan authority, and normalised diplomatic relations between our two countries, which drafted a new chapter of China-Malawi friendship and opened the gate for the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between our two countries,” Songtian said.

He therefore praised Professor Peter Mutharika for successfully leading the delegation that included former Minister of Transport and Public Works Henry Mussa, former Minister in the Office of President and Cabinet Davies Katsonga, former Minister of Energy and Mines Henry Chimunthu Banda and former Minister of Economic Planning and Development Ken Lipenga.

Professor Peter Mutharika and Henry Mussa were both present when Songtian said this during a reception held at lunch hour at this hotel in Lilongwe.

During the time Malawi and China established these diplomatic relations, Professor Peter Mutharika served as Chief Advisor to the State President on Constitutional, Legal and International Affairs.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Augustine Mtendere described China as a true friend.

Mtendere cited the construction of the Karonga-Chitipa road, the new Parliament building, the five star hotel and international conference centre as key development projects which Malawians are happy for.

According to the Chinese ambassador, within the two years over 435 officials including 11 ministers, five deputies, the Chief Justice and Commander of the Malawi Defence Forces have visited the country.

He also disclosed that so far, 57 Malawian students have been granted scholarships to study in the Peoples Republic of China-Daily Times/Malawi Digest.

2 comments:

  1. Going down the wrong track guys. Real stories please.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Article title doesn't match the story.

    ReplyDelete