President Lazarus Chakwera held bilateral discussions with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres where among other things the two discussed issues on the devastating impact of cyclone Freddy on people’s lives and infrastructure.
He appealed for more financial support towards post Cyclone recovery.
Chakwera emphasized on the need for international financial institutions to consider debt cancellation for the Least Developed Countries in order for them to achieve the SDGs.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Minister of foreign affairs, Nancy Tembo said the meeting with the UN Chief is a clear indication of Chakwera’s commitment to strengthen relationships with the UN family.
She explained that the UN Secretary General commended Chakwera’s urgent response to people who were affected by Cyclone Freddy.
Tembo also revealed that Chakwera expressed gratitude to the UN Secretary General for the role the UN mission in Malawi assisted Cyclone Freddy victims with their urgent and timely interventions.
She added that, despite the challenges the UN family faced like the adverse weather condition, the UN played a huge role in the recovery and providing relief items to the affected people.
In his remarks the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres assured Malawi of his full support in all areas of development to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030.
Delivering his statement at the opening of the 78th United General Assembly Conference the UN Chief urged wealthy nations to assist the Least Developed Countries to realise their dreams of graduating into middle-income countries
Later in the day, Chakwera visited Rutgers University in collaboration with Nekotech Centre of Excellence, where Malawi secured USD 100 million for 1000 Malawian graduates in the United States of America.
This comes barely over six weeks when Chakwera presided over the launch of Africa US-Presidential Forum and Science Technology and Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Artificial intelligence.
The program provide chance to build the future for the youths by harnessing science and technology at tertiary level.
Earlier in the day, Chakwera held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mark Rutte where they discussed issues of development.
Rutte commended President Chakwera on how he responded in assisting people during the Natural disasters.
He further commended the president for promoting rule of law and providing political and economic opportunities to all.
The Prime Minister assured Malawi of its continued support in its development agenda, particularly in the area of education.
Chakwera continues to engage various governments and institutions as one way of soliciting financial support for Malawi’s economic recovery.
By Lisa Kadango Malango in New York
