Former President Joyce Banda is back from the People’s Republic of China where she attended the seventh China-Africa People’s Forum.
Executive Assistant in the Office of Former President Arnold Mnelemba confirmed in an interview that the former president has called on more trade between China and Africa.
At the invitation of the government of China and the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Executive Committee, Mnelemba said Banda led a delegation of six Malawians who took part in discussions on finding ways of reaching out to rural Malawians through community work.
She started her visit by meeting the Secretary General of the China Foundation for Peace and Development (CFPD) who are partners of Joyce Banda Foundation in three projects including girls education bursaries, infrastructure and agricultural development as well as kits of love, a program that support early childhood development.
“She was treated to a welcome dinner where Chinese investors pledged to support and invest in Malawi in areas of mutual interest. Banda was later taken to the Imperial Palace (The forbidden city) as one way of promoting cultural heritage and exchanges between the two countries of Malawi and China,” he said
The Former Malawi leader flew to Changsha City in Hunan province where the summit took place.
Banda gave a nerve shaking presentation at the opening banquet where she emphasised on the need for the two countries to migrate from aid to trade.
She held a closed door meeting with Chinese and African leaders invited for the forum before attending the opening session.
She also spoke at a parallel session of international volunteer services where she called upon organizations present to help Malawi with relief programs following the cyclones that hit the country back to back.
The Former President in company of Malawi Ambassador in China Allan Chimtedza met the Deputy Governor of the CPC in Hunan where they discussed Malawi and China relationship and investment potential for Malawi. The Chinese government pledged to support Malawi in many areas including infrastructure, agriculture and irrigation, trade, cultural exchanges and education.
The Former Malawi leader was later treated to a banquet hosted by the Vice President of Non Governmental Organizations in China where new partnerships between Chinese NGOs and Malawi counterparts were established.
Summing up her visit, the Former President paid respect to Former President of the People’s Republic of China Mao Zedong.
Also known as Chairman Mao. Zedong was a theorist, military strategist, poet, and revolutionary leader, Mao was the founder of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
He led the country from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976, while he was serving as the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party during that time.
His theories, military strategies and policies are known as Maoism.
He is greatly respected by the Chinese people.
Banda went to Shaoshang, Changsha city in Hunan province at the invitation of the government of the People’s Republic of China to attend the seventh China-Africa People’s Forum.
