On January 31, 2016 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George T. Chaponda of Malawi in Lilongwe.

Wang Yi said that Chinese foreign ministers choose Africa as the first stop of overseas visit every year, which showcases the high importance attached by the Chinese side to Africa and has become a fine tradition of Chinese diplomacy. Although the history of China-Malawi diplomatic relations is not long, the choice of Malawi as the first leg of the visit to Africa sends a message that all African countries, whether new friends or old friends, are China's good friends.

Wang Yi said that since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Malawi eight years ago, the bilateral cooperation has achieved a series of concrete and practical results, bringing about tangible benefits to the Malawian people. Now, China-Malawi relations are entering a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation. Both sides can, in accordance with the general direction identified at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and in combination with Malawi's national conditions and development demands, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in such five key areas as agriculture, processing and manufacturing, infrastructure construction, human resources development and medical care with a focus on helping Malawi break the three development bottlenecks of backward infrastructure, inadequate human resources and fund shortage and address its three livelihood issues of employment, food and clothes and health, so as to constantly enhance Malawi's self-development capacity.

Wang Yi pointed out that China is ready to, together with Malawi, enhance exchanges between government departments, legislative bodies and political parties, and strengthen communication and mutual learning in state governance and development experience. China will continue deepening people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two sides in terms of media, think tanks, higher education and youth societies to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. China will strengthen coordination and cooperation with Malawi in international and regional issues so as to safeguard the shared interests of developing nations.

George T. Chaponda said that since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Malawi and China eight years ago, the two countries have insisted on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. China is a true friend to help Malawi achieve independent and sustainable development and has provided important support for Malawi's economic and social development in various fields.The Johannesburg Summit of the FOCAC made a historic success, and the cooperation initiatives proposed by China have brought the hope of development to Africa. Foreign Minister Wang Yi decided to visit Malawi prior to the coming Chinese New Year and chose Malawi as the first leg of the visit to Africa, which fully showcases that China attaches great importance to the development of Malawi-China relations and has sincerity to implement the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the FOCAC. Under the framework of the Africa-China cooperation, Malawi is willing to launch cooperation between the two countries so as to push forward industrialization and agricultural modernization, improve self-development capacity, and promote the well-being of Malawians. Malawi will firmly adhere to the One-China policy, support the peaceful reunification of China, and enhance coordination with China in international and regional affairs.