Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi to pay state visit to Malawi

Written by: Tikondani Vega

Lilongwe, August 27 (Xinhua) — President Filipe Nyusi of the Republic of Mozambique is scheduled to visit Malawi on Wednesday to attend a number of state events.

The President’s visit comes at the invitation of Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera and is aimed at strengthening the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

During his visit, President Nyusi is expected to be awarded an honorary degree by the University of Zomba in Malawi.

“I am pleased to announce that the University of Malawi will confer an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy (Honoris Causa) on the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi,” University of Malawi Registrar Martin Matululu said in a statement released on August 26, 2024.

President Nyusi will also be the special guest at the opening of the Blantyre 2024 Trade Expo.

Malawi and Mozambique have a rich history of cooperation, stemming from their geographical proximity and deep cultural ties.

In terms of economic cooperation, Mozambique has become Malawi’s gateway to global trade through important ports such as Beira; in terms of energy cooperation, the Malawi-Mozambique power interconnection project is a milestone in bilateral relations.

In addition, the two countries have played an important role in promoting peace and security in the region and have cooperated within the framework of the Southern African Development Community to address common challenges.

Currently, Malawi and Mozambique share many common cultural ties, particularly between ethnic groups such as the Lomwe and Yao along the border, which fosters close relations between the two countries.

This year, Malawi and Mozambique also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations at the grass-roots level through joint technical meetings that brought together technical experts from the two countries’ international affairs, defence, police and local government sectors.

Recently, Malawi’s High Commissioner to Mozambique Wezi Moyo said that the two countries are also strengthening communication. Many Mozambicans are learning English, while Malawi plans to introduce Portuguese and Swahili in the curriculum to improve social integration.

Meanwhile, Malawi is connecting the railway in Marka to the Vilanova Frontera de Mark to Sena corridor, which will allow the country to transport bulky goods at a lower cost.