Chinese Foreign Minister lands in Tanzania for official visit

DAR ES SALAAM: Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi, has arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a two-day working visit from January 9 to 10, 2026.

At Julius Nyerere International Airport, Wang Yi was welcomed by Tanzania’s Foreign Minister and Minister for East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (MP), Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr. Ngwaru Maghembe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Dr. Samwel Shelukindo, along with other government officials.

The visit aims to strengthen strategic relations and cooperation between Tanzania and China. It also seeks to promote economic collaboration and explore new opportunities for investment and development in areas of mutual interest.

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During his visit, Wang Yi will hold talks with Foreign Minister Kombo to advance and consolidate strategic ties between the two countries. He will also meet with the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, at State House in Dar es Salaam, where he will deliver special greetings from the President of China, Xi Jinping.

Tanzania and China have continued to cooperate in various sectors, including trade and investment. In 2024, the trade volume between the two countries reached approximately 5.2bn US dollars. Chinese companies have invested in Tanzania in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, services, transport, communications, and tourism. In 2025, the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) registered 343 Chinese projects valued at 3.1bn US dollars  , creating 82,404 jobs.

The cooperation also extends to transport infrastructure, with the TAZARA Railway serving as a key symbol of friendship and partnership. The railway spans 1,860 kilometers, with 975 kilometers in Tanzania and 885 kilometers in Zambia, remaining a historic emblem of the close relations built on unity, solidarity, and brotherhood between Tanzania and China.

This visit further reflects the longstanding historical ties between Tanzania and China, built on trust and mutual respect for over six decades. The foundation of this partnership was laid by the founding leaders of both nations, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and the late Chairman Mao Zedong, and continues to be honored by current leaders of both countries.