President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika will leave the country today for Beijing, the Peoples’ Republic of China where he will attend the Forum on Africa and China Corporation-FOCAC summit.

According to a statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), the President will depart Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe at half past five in the evening.

“His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, accompanied by Her Excellency Prof. Gertrude Mutharika, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, will travel to China on an official visit, from where he will fulfil a number of engagements.

“His Excellency the President will attend the 3rd Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which will be held in Beijing, China, from 3rd to 4th September, 2018 under the theme, “China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation,” reads in part the statement.

The Summit will be attended by Heads of State and Government of People’s Republic of China and of over fifty (50) African countries, as well as representatives of the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations and several International Organisations. It will be preceded by the 13th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and 7th FOCAC Ministerial Conference, which will take place on 1st September, 2018, and 2nd September, 2018, respectively.