Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has made an impassioned appeal to the Government of the People’s Republic of China to rally behind Africa’s wish for an integrated economy.
Chakwera is in China where he is attending the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha City, Hunan Province, at the invitation of China, which paid for his air tickets and accommodation costs.
Speaking during the launch of the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha City, Hunan Province, the Malawi leader stressed that Africa and China cannot continue to pursue the fragmented economy, arguing this has already proven to be a failure due to lack of unified voice.
“I call on China to support Africa’s economic integration efforts, because an integrated African economy will be a better partner for China’s desire for a win-win prosperity than fragmented ones that incur so many losses for everyone,” he said.
President Chakwera stated that African countries have not gathered in China to ask for charity but to explore trade opportunities for a prosperous future.
“Those of us from Africa have gathered here with dignity, not beggars, but as traders, for our desire in our relationship with any other country is to come as partners seeking our rightful stake in the prosperous future,” he narrated.
