China is discussing a huge tobacco investment in the African
nation of Malawi. This became known after the recent visit of Chinese
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to the country, and according to Chinese
Ambassador Lin Songtian.
Source: atcri
While in Malawi
during what has become China's traditional New Year tour of Africa, Yang Jiechi said Beijing will not
abandon Africa, despite the global recession.
Yang's visit, which created the platform for business talks between the
two countries opened-up opportunity for China to woo Malawian Tobacco
Farmers into deals with China. Chinese Ambassador Lin Songtian said
Chinese businessmen who accompanied Yang discussed buying Malawi
tobacco for what he says are 350 million Chinese smokers.
According to Malawi's Tobacco Control Commission General Manager
Godfrey Chapola, Malawi needs to "look east" because of growing Western
anti-smoking sentiment. During the visit, Yang signed an agreement to build a $90
million hotel conference center in the capital, Lilongwe. China is also
building a Parliament house and a highway linking northern Malawi to
Zambia.
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