Tanzania sees success in projects run by the China-Africa forum

DAR ES SALAAM: THE construction of a Cardiology Training and Open-Heart Surgery Centre at Muhimbili National Hospital is one of the development projects implemented under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Cosato Chumi, during his discussion with the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian, in Dar es Salaam, adding that Tanzania hopes that the projects will be prioritized so as to enable the country to benefit fully from the program.

He mentioned some of the projects as concessional loans and financial grants.

The FOCAC mechanism was established in 2000, it has provided a valuable platform for interaction between China and African Countries.

Tanzania has successfully used the FOCAC mechanism to attract investments from both the Chinese government and private sector in the areas of agricultural products processing, building material manufacturing, energy generation, and construction of electricity transmission lines.

According to the Embassy of Tanzania in Beijing, Tanzania has been one of the major beneficiaries of Chinese assistance, which contributes greatly to the development of Tanzanian economic and social affairs and the improvement of Tanzanian livelihood.

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The embassy mentioned some of the few and recent Chinese assistance to Tanzania which include, the construction of a Cardiology Training and Open-Heart Surgery Centre at Muhimbili National Hospital; built an agricultural demonstration center in Morogoro; assisted in the construction of the Mwalimu Nyerere Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam and the construction of multiple China-Africa friendship primary schools.

“Through the FOCAC platform, Africa can advance its development agenda and ensure that cooperation with China bears real benefits for the people on both sides, in line with global technological progress and globalization,” the Minister said.

Moreover, Mr Chumi said that Tanzania will continue to strengthen its cooperation with China in key sectors such as agriculture, health, education, trade, investment, tourism, infrastructure, mining, financial assistance, as well as defense and security, to achieve sustainable development.

For her part, Ambassador Mingjian stated that in response to the rapid pace of technological advancement, China will expand its cooperation with Tanzania in areas such as artificial intelligence and e-commerce.