Malawi confirms establishment of diplomatic relations with China

LILONGWE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Malawian Foreign Minister Joyce Banda confirmed here Monday that her country has established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

Earlier today, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced in Beijing that China and Malawi had established diplomatic relations on Dec. 28, 2007.

It means that Malawi has cut off its 41-year-old relationship with Taiwan, a province of China.

"The government of the Republic of Malawi recognizes that there is but one China in the world ... and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," said Banda, whose country has become the 170th country to have diplomatic relations with China.

Malawi and China formalized their relations at the end of last year with the signing of a joint communique in Beijing.