By Joseph Dumbula
Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera says the Republic of China has accepted to get rid of tariffs that have for long been placed on products from the Southern African nation.
The President made the revelations after holding bilateral meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Chakwera said the request from Malawi came at the belief that the tariffs have been stifling businesses and creating trade imbalances between our two countries.
“The punitive tariffs have been an issue of concern for a long time. They have been affecting Malawian traders wishing to broaden markets for their products in China. This development therefore is a huge opportunity for this country. Let’s therefore seize it and explore as many markets as possible in China,” said Chakwera.
The Malawi leader was also full of praise for the move which he argued will likely boost trade between the two nations.
Chakwera was among 50 African heads of state attending the China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, a forum between China and all African countries.
Malawi and the People’s Republic of China established diplomatic relations in December 2007 which were formalised a year later in 2008 riding on the on the principles of win–win, non-interference, mutual respect and friendship.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China has assisted Malawi in various aspects including the construction of Parliament Building, Karonga-Chitipa Road, the Bingu International Convention Center, and Bingu National Stadium as well as the Malawi University of Science and Technology.
