Hunan and Malawei Further Deepen Cooperation

On June 20, a ceremony was held at Agricultural University of Hunan (Hunau) to unveil the nameplates of the Malawi-Hunau University-Industrial Cooperation Base and the Malawi Offshore (China) Industrial Innovation and Exchange Center. Aiming at strengthening all-round cooperation between China and Africa in modern agricultural technologies, these two institutes will focus on promoting regional and global advancement in agricultural technology and adjustment of agricultural economic structure, and increase the comprehensive benefits of modern agriculture.

The nameplates of the Malawi-Hunau University-Industrial Cooperation Base and the Malawi (China) Industrial Innovation and Exchange Center are unveiled. Photo by Peng Sui

"Malawi has comfortable climate, rich sunshine, and abundant land resource. It holds distinct advantages in agriculture, and shares economic and resource complementarity with Hunan Province," said the Malawian ambassador to China. He expected the two sides will jointly construct the China-Africa Cooperative Center for Modern Agricultural Technology Exchange, Demonstration, and Training, and deepen industry and university-industrial cooperation, so as to benefit Malawian people with Chinese intelligence, Chinese experience, and Chinese solutions. He also hoped to form a sustainable mode which can be replicated and promoted, to lay a foundation for the implementation of the 10 major cooperation plans, the eight major initiatives, and the nine programs adopted at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

A group photo of the attendees at the ceremony Photo by Peng Sui

The Malawi-Hunau University-Industrial Cooperation Base is a branch of the China-Africa University-Industrial Cooperation Base. It will focus on the cooperation between China and Malawi in such aspects as agriculture, fishery, industry, education, and talents; promote ability and efficiency of both countries in eliminating poverty and hunger, improving living environment, promoting employment, and reducing carbon emission; help Malawi transform to recycling, value-based, and industrialized economic growth mode; improve industrial quality; advance the progress of the China-Africa poverty reduction and agricultural development program; and, strive to achieve China's Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , the African Union's Agenda 2063, and the development strategies of African countries.

The Malawi Offshore (China) Industrial Innovation and Exchange Center is a part of the Hunan International Industrial Innovation and Exchange Center in the Hunan Free Trade Zone Changsha Area Furong District Block. It will integrate factors and resources, collaborate with the plans on building an inland hub of opening up, and gather personnel, technologies, capital, projects, and other industrial innovation factors. It will also facilitate governmental and non-governmental friendly exchanges, and broaden, deepen, and innovate the economic and trade cooperation between Malawi and Hunan Province, even China.

The Hunan Free Trade Zone Changsha Area Furong District Block will make good use of the Malawi-Hunau University-Industrial Cooperation Base and the Malawi Offshore (China) Industrial Innovation and Exchange Center, and give play to the advantages as the zone specialized for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa. It will stimulate the innovative drivers, expand economic and trade cooperation with Africa, and boost China-Africa economic and trade cooperation to a new height.