Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika said on Sunday he will head a Malawian delegation to attend the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

Mutharika made the remarks in a meeting with Shanghai Mayor HanZheng. He added that China has officially invited Malawi to attend the 2010 World Expo, and he believed the event will provide platform for further development of Malawi-China friendship.

Mutharika expressed his hope to take back China's experiences of rapid economic development to help the development of Malawi.

Han briefed Mutharika on Shanghai's development in recent years and the latest preparation of the World Expo.

Shanghai is the fourth stop of the Malawian President's China tour, which has also taken him to Beijing, Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province, and Shenzhen, a city of southern Guangdong Province.

Mutharika arrived in Beijing on March 24 to start his first state visit to China as guest of Chinese President Hu Jintao. He will conclude his visit on Sunday night.

China and Malawi established diplomatic ties on Dec. 28, 2007.