Dodoma, 27 April 2022 (TDI): April 26 marked the 58th Anniversary of the establishment of China-Tanzania Diplomatic Relations. Also, the same day is the Union Day of Tanzania.
Since the year of 1964, China and Tanzania have maintained a close bilateral diplomatic relationship. China and Tanzania are not only friends but also equal partners for both sides.
AN OVERVIEW OF CHINA-TANZANIA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
China and Tanzania established a bilateral diplomatic relationship 58 years ago, on April 26, 1964. Since then, China and Tanzania have been working closely, especially on agricultural, trade, and infrastructure construction cooperation.
According to Tanzania’s ambassador to China, Mbelwa Kairuki, China has been Tanzania’s largest foreign investor with total investment reaching over $7 billion by 2019. Moreover, the trade volume reached $3.9 Billion in the same year.
On March 20 this year, Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi had a virtual meeting with Tanzanian Foreign Minister, Liberata Mulamula. During the meeting, both sides agreed to deepen the bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership.
Furthermore, Wang Yi said China is ready to make joint efforts with Tanzania on the independent development of the African continent.
Foreign Ministers from China and Tanzania announced to expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, and infrastructure. In addition, both sides approved of synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative with Tanzania’s Development Vision 2025.
FLAGSHIP PROJECTS OF CHINA-TANZANIA COOPERATION
The Tanzania-Zambia (TAZARA) railway is a key achievement of China-Tanzania cooperation. The project was constructed from 1970 to 1975. At the completion of the railway, the TAZARA was the longest railway in sub-Saharan Africa.
TAZARA was also China’s largest single foreign-aid project at the time. The project cost US $406 million (the equivalent of US $2.83 billion today).
The TAZARA is a railway in East Africa. The railway links the port of Dar es Salaam in east Tanzania with the town of Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia’s Central Province. Both Tanzania and Zambia have benefited a lot from this project.
Recently, another key project within the scope of China-Tanzania cooperation is the New Wami Bridge. On April 20 this year, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian was invited to attend the ceremony of the closure of the span of the bridge.
The New Wami Bridge is a key project connecting northern Tanzania. The bridge was funded by the Tanzanian government and mainly contracted by the Power Construction Corporation of China.
China and Tanzania have enjoyed a traditional friendship and the two countries have had very close economic ties for decades.
Just as Ambassador Mbelwa Kairuki said, considering the available opportunities in China and Tanzania, there is still a big room to increase bilateral trade and investment volume.
Also, China and Tanzania are deepening and widening their cooperation in many fields. It is worth looking forward to the future development of China-Tanzania relations.
