By Yussufuh Sambo (DONGFANG SCHOLAR-2025 -PEKING UNIVERSITY).
CHINA IN BRIEF
Geographically, China is located in East Asia, spanning a vast territory from the Pacific Ocean to Central Asia, bordered by 14 countries and several seas. It is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres. It is the fourth largest country in the world with an area of 9,706,961 Square Kilometers and a population of 1.4 billion people. It is a country full of beautiful Plateaus, Mountains, Deserts, Coastal plains and rich historical ancient sites, this influences China’s climate, trade and international relations. China is ranked 1st among Upper middle-income group economies and second in the world economy.
China’s GDP is projected at approximately $19.65 trillion (140 trillion Yuan) nominal, with a projected GDP growth rate of around 5.2%. China’s economy is the largest in the world by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), which in the years (2025).
THE PATH WAY TO MODERN CHINA AND PROBABLY THINGS YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS WHEN YOU VISIT CHINA.
China has transformed tremendously for the past 50 years and gone through different modernization models and finally they adopted a model suitable for their country and people without compromising or diluting their cultural values, beliefs, disciplinary code of conduct and education system, they refused to adopt western modernization model in totality. This tailor made model of modernization is the one which took them to be one of the successful middle upper income country. Indeed what is good for house ‘A’ cannot normally be good to house ‘B’ because they are in different geographical positions, different economic size, different natural endowments, population size and many factors.
To this end, it is a big lesson to learn that African countries shouldn’t just follow western modernization model but can just learn the principles and do things in our own way to suit our country’s needs.
Out of the population of 1.4 billion, 90% are from Han tribe, but when it comes to national development there is no tribalism, they consider themselves equal and Chinese nationals. Appointments are on merit and not tribe line as a result the minority tribes are not disadvantaged in any way.
Chinese are very united people, they love and care for their country. They invest much in education to ensure that their children attain good education and education standards in China are very high than most developed countries.
Chinese are very friendly and accommodative people in their country, they treat visitors with extra care. You can freely interact and do whatever with them without any sort of segregation.
China has a lot of fascinating tourists’ attraction centres like THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA.
The wall was built by various materials and has a total length of almost 21,000km, it took over 2000 years to construct. The construction work started as early as 3rd century BC (that is before the Birth of Jesus Christ) by Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) up to 17TH Century that’s during Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) and the main purpose was for military defense. During this construction period more than 400,000 workers died and were buried beneath the wall.
Great wall is one among the most fascinating place to visit and if you visited China but never visited Great wall then you have never visited China. Other places worthy visiting are magnificent War Memorial Hall, The ancient Emperors house in Forbidden City, The Canton Tower (in Guangzhou province). This tower is 604meters, which is almost 1,982 feet to the tip of its antenna, making it the second tallest tower in the world, the tower has 112 floors.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, this is 55 kilometers long bridge which connects the Main land of China, Macau and Hong Kong. This bridge is in sections, the first section, almost 3o kilometers bridge from main land China and second section is undersea tunnel, almost 8 kilometers from the bridge to a very beautiful artificial Blue Dolphin Island and a third section is also a bridge almost 12 kilometers from Blue Dolphin Island to Hong Kong and another section connects to Macau. This 55 kilometers bridge took 9 years to complete. These are only very few places to mention but there are more other marvelous and fascinating places worthy visiting.
MALAWI –CHINA BILATERAL RELATION
China is in bilateral relation with other countries in Asia, Caribbean Islands, Latin America and Africa including Malawi.
The bilateral relationship between Malawi and People’s Republic of China formally come into effect on December 28, 2007, Malawi opened its embassy in Beijing in March 2008. This was a shift in foreign policy that had previously aligned with Taiwan. When UDF government lead by Professor Bingu Wa muthalika won in 2004 general elections the party made a decision to end its Diplomatic recognition from Taiwan and switched to the main land China. The former President Dr Joyce Band then was the minister of foreign affairs. The main pillar or binding principle of Malawi-China diplomatic relationship is based on Malawi’s acceptance of One China Principle.
HOW BOTH, MALAWI AND CHINA BENEFIT FROM THIS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP
Since establishment of Diplomatic relationship between Malawi and China in 2008, Malawi has received significant assistance from People’s Republic of China in the form of grants, concessional loan, technical support and humanitarian aid. Notably in infrastructure development projects leading to opening up in terms of business, economic growth and job creation for many young people.
Some of these infrastructure projects include;
Government buildings like Malawi Parliament building
Judicial Complex in Lilongwe
Karonga- Chitipa (M26 road- Bingu Highway)
M1 Road Dualization ( Upgrading the M1 road from Mchinji round about to Kanengo in Lilongwe to a four –lane divided highway
Co-financed- the state of the art Bypass roads in Lilongwe
Malawi University of Sciences and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo ( This project largely funded by a concessional loan)
Bingu National Stadium
Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) and 5 star Alendo Hotel
Construction of some China-Malawi Friendship Primary Schools in Thyolo
National Fiber Backbone Project II
Rural Electrification ( A project intended to get rural areas connected to electricity grid)
Healthcare- Since 2008, the Government of Chine has been dispatching teams of specialized personnel in the field of healthcare such as surgeons, pediatricians into our hospitals to treat thousands of Malawians. The country also have been receiving some medical supplies like patient monitoring machines, ultrasound machines and other equipment’s from China.
Market Access- China granted duty free entry to its market for many Malawian products like Tobacco, tea, sugar, coffee and legumes to boost our trade and balance of payment.
Military Equipment- China has been donating some modern military equipment to Malawi Defense Force.
Humanitarian Aid- China has been assisting Malawi in time of need. For instant some aid to ease the effect of natural disasters like when the country was hit by cyclone Idai, China provided a grant of $1 million.
Debt Relief- Recently the People’s Republic of China, announced a debt cancellation (relief) of US$20 million. These are just few benefits Malawi has benefited from its Diplomatic relation with China.
Education scholarships to Malawi nationals to study at reputable high learning institutions in China
China on other hand also benefited from its bilateral relation with Malawi primarily through
Economic opportunities for Chinese companies
Chinese construction companies and contractors do secure contracts for major infrastructure projects and telecommunications such as the National Fiber Backbone project in the country because of their special skills and expertise.
Market expansion- its global trade networks and market for its goods and services
Malawi serves as a market arena for many Chinese products such as electronics, machinery and other consumer products. This has helped China to expand its export markets.
These benefits for both are just in nutshell because there are a lot both countries are enjoying though Malawi benefit much more.
