On the morning of September 3, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with President of Chad Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Chad relationship to a strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Chad have actively carried out mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC, and achieved fruitful results. China has been Chad’s largest trading partner and investment partner for many years in a row, and bilateral practical cooperation has improved the well-being of the two peoples. China is ready to work with Chad to uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, and push for new progress in China-Chad relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Chinese side highly appreciates Chad’s firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests and major concerns and will, as always, support Chad in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. The two sides should strengthen exchanges, expand consensus on ideas, consolidate political mutual trust and firmly support each other. Both sides should adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results and deepen practical cooperation. Chad is welcome to fully leverage the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit, deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, enhance independent development capacity and achieve common development. China is ready to work with Chad to implement the Global Security Initiative, safeguard national security and stability, and work together as a staunch force for peace.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno thanked the Chinese side for inviting and warmly receiving him to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit in China, which fully reflects the friendship between Chad and China. The Chad-China cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results has yielded fruitful results. He thanked China for providing valuable assistance to Chad’s economic and social development. Chad is firmly committed to further deepening friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China. Under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has witnessed rapid development and increasingly rising international standing. Chad admires China’s development achievements, appreciates a series of major ideas and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and is happy to see China’s continued development and growth. He believes that China’s sustained development will bring more opportunities for the development of Chad, Africa and the world, which is crucial to leading the transformations of the world unseen in a century. Noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said that Chad will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle.

During the summit, China and Chad will sign a number of bilateral cooperation documents covering such areas as the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, cooperation on human resources development, peanut and sesame export to China, and news and media.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.

The Powers and Privileges Committee today elected Ms Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe as the Chairperson of the committee.

In accordance with Rule 212 of the National Assembly, the committee is composed of 9 members. The African National Congress is represented in the committee by Ms Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe, Mr Gijimani Skosana, Mr Mikateko Mahlaule and Ms Nonceba Gcaleka-Mazibuko. The Democratic Alliance is represented by Mr George Michalakis and Mr Baxolile Nodada. The uMkhonto WeSizwe Party is represented by Dr Mandlakayise Hlophe, Mr Nhlamulo Ndlela and the Economic Freedom Fighters is represented by Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi with Ms Poppy Moilola as an alternate member.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

The United States, through USAID and working with Congress, announced today an additional $40 million to mitigate ongoing food insecurity and build food system resilience across Africa.

Today’s announcement will increase investments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. These efforts will support smallholder farmers to increase yields, mitigate impacts of extreme weather with improved crop varieties, and improve water use efficiency and access, reducing risks to future harvests in the Zambezi River Basin. 

While food prices have come down from the record levels of 2022, food insecurity remains high due to recurrent shocks to food systems, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and effects from El Niño. Through Feed the Future – the United States’ whole-of-government food security initiative – USAID works with governments and private partners to help mitigate the impacts of food system shocks and build resiliency for the future. In line with the U.S.-African Union Joint Strategic Partnership on Food Security, the funding will help accelerate a regional, African-led approach to boost agricultural productivity, market linkages, improve nutrition, and leverage the private sector to enhance food security. 

In areas supported by Feed the Future, hunger and poverty have dropped by as much as 25 percent over the past decade. Hunger will not be solved by emergency aid alone. Through this funding and strategic partnerships, Feed the Future is breaking the cycle of food insecurity by making long-term investments in agrifood systems that accelerate innovative research and build lasting connections with the private sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

On the morning of September 3, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Malawi’s President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of China-Malawi relations to a strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the China-Malawi relationship has enjoyed steady and sound development with solid political mutual trust and fruitful mutually beneficial cooperation. China is ready to take the opportunity of implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit to push for deeper and more substantive progress in China-Malawi friendly cooperation at a new starting point and promote the common development of the two countries, so as to continuously benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China supports Malawi in exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions, and is ready to share with Malawi opportunities brought by Chinese modernization to help with Malawi’s national development. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Malawi in agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure and other fields, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Malawi. The two sides should make good use of the Confucius Institute at the University of Malawi to promote cultural exchanges and forge closer bonds between the people. China supports the smooth operation of the Consulate General of Malawi in Changsha and encourages the two sides to conduct more exchanges and cooperation at the sub-national level. China is also ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Malawi in international affairs and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera said that every time he comes to China, it feels like coming home. He thanked the Chinese side for the warm and friendly reception. Malawi regards China as its most sincere friend. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera said that in recent years, he has had the honor to maintain close exchanges with President Xi Jinping, leading to positive progress in bilateral cooperation. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese out of poverty. The Belt and Road Initiative and other major initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping have provided important opportunities for all countries to achieve common development and prosperity. Malawi stays committed to the one-China policy and supports China in safeguarding its own core interests. Malawi also supports strengthening the FOCAC’s institutional development and looks forward to taking this summit as an opportunity to further promote Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen regional connectivity and deepen friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Malawi and China.

During the summit, China and Malawi will sign a number of bilateral cooperation documents on peanut exports to China, news media, development cooperation and other fields.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.