Tanzania, China to deepen cooperation

THE recent visit by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to China has chartered a new chapter for engagement ahead and it will bring about tremendous opportunities in all areas.

This was said on Friday by the Minister Plenipotentiary in the Tanzania Embassy to China, Dr Zainab Massoro when addressing a forum for China – Africa Port Economic and Trade Cooperation and Development.

The forum was held in Yue Yang city, Hunan province of china that is well established in transport and logistics facilities that in turn provides a business link between China and African countries, Tanzania in particular.

She said that due to the visit, the two countries can foresee a dramatic increase in trading volume, wider enjoyment in personal exchanges as well as more effective and innovative cooperation in the logistics areas of both sides.

“We have a wide room to cooperate. We are keen to learn from Hunan Province on its experience to establish Hunan-Guangzhou-Africa Rail-Sea Express which links China and Africa by faster and more convenient transportation,” she said.

Speaking of the Dar es Salaam Port, Ms Massoro told the forum that the facility is not only important for Tanzania but also for other six countries such as Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.

“Currently Dar es Salaam Port is handling 90 per cent of Tanzania seaborne trade, and meanwhile helping 8 neighbouring land-linked countries for their seaborne export, which covers more than 200 million people,” she said.

According to her, the country is also keen to attract Chinese investment and expertise to help in modernising Tanzania’s Port, improve delivery by countering challenges like capacity constraints, vessel draught restrictions, changing ship technology and insufficient cargo off-take by the Railways.

Expounding, the Embassy official said Tanzania is also looking forward to establishing a feasible framework with Chinese potential partners to operate the Export Processing Zone in a win-win model.

“The opportunities ahead of us are obvious, with the full support of both governments, and mutual commitment to elevate our partnership to the brand-new level,” added the embassy official.

She was optimistic that the ports in Hunan Province, and other Provinces of China, will grasp the chance to explore the feasible, pragmatic model for cooperation, so as to better facilitate the movement of goods, people and eventually bring real benefit to both sides.