Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera in Changsha, central China"s Hunan Province, June 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

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CHANGSHA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China"s achievement in pursuing high-quality development and economic growth is "an example for Africa to learn from and emulate," Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said here in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"Over the past decades, African countries have been learning valuable lessons from China," he said. Now it"s time to put what was learned into practice and "start doing (it) in our own countries," said Chakwera, who attended the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in Changsha, the capital of central China"s Hunan Province, from Thursday to Sunday.

"The expo is a platform for us to be able to relate with the Chinese people, not just person to person, but industry to industry, nation to nation," the Malawian president told Xinhua during the interview on Friday.

"We will use this economic and trade expo to make sure that we trade more with our counterparts here," he said. "We invite Chinese industry to establish themselves and invest in Malawi."

Joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2022, Malawi has already been benefiting from its partnership with China in such fields as agriculture, technologies and infrastructure.

"We truly treasure Chinese investment because that"s helping us become self-reliant, ensuring our food security on the household level as well as the national level," Chakwera said.

Citing China"s investment in Malawian infrastructure as an example, the president said that China is offering necessary help for his country to attract investment, and achieve rapid and independent development, adding that it is "not a handout."

On China"s efforts to pursue high-quality development while preserving the environment, the president expressed his admiration. "This is the green way to grow," said Chakwera. "Malawi wants to be a green Malawi, and we can learn a lot from what is happening here."

An exhibitor introduces products to a visitor during the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center in Changsha, central China"s Hunan Province, June 29, 2023. The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo kicked off Thursday in Changsha. The expo welcomes more "Made in Africa" products into China and aims to boost business links between the two sides. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

In March, Tropical Cyclone Freddy roared into Malawi, triggering flooding and mudslides, and causing thousands of deaths and homelessness. To support the African country"s rescue and disaster relief work, China provided emergency humanitarian assistance.

As the Malawian people reconstruct their country after the damage Freddy has caused, Chakwera said that by learning from China, Malawi could be better prepared for such kind of climate change shocks, and become more resilient.

During the interview, the president debunked the "de-risking" and "de-coupling" rhetoric about China used by some Western countries.

"We can learn from and emulate China in many ways," Chakwera said. However, he added that sometimes people are blind to the facts.

Talking about his impressions of China, the president said he has been greatly impressed during his visit.

"The Chinese people are just like the Malawians, warm-hearted," he said. "I love the food; I love the scenery; I love the internationality."