PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Thursday announced the elevation of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, to promote bilateral ties onto a healthy and stable development path.
The two presidents spoke highly of the traditional friendship between the two countries and noted with satisfaction the fruitful outcomes of China-Tanzania relations and their friendly cooperation in the past 58 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
During their meeting, the two Heads of State also agreed to continue elevating their two-way trade and further expand the trade volume, said a joint statement issued yesterday by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Chinese side agreed to provide duty-free treatment of 98 per cent tariff lines goods originating from Tanzania exported to China and will actively explore the possibility of providing market access to more Tanzanian products,” the statement reads in part.
They pledged to continue supporting each other on issues involving sovereignty, territorial integrity and other core interests. The Tanzanian side reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle.
President Samia is currently paying a state visit to China from Wednesday to today. A welcoming ceremony was also held for her at the Great Hall of the People yesterday afternoon.
Other points of agreement are to continue to leverage the political guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy, to maintain the momentum of high-level interactions and dialogues, to deepen the traditional friendship and political mutual trust, to strengthen strategic coordination, to share governance experience, and to improve exchanges and cooperation between their central and local governments, legislatures, and political parties at all levels.
The joint statement also noted that the two sides will implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between China and Tanzania on jointly Promoting the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
“The two sides agreed to expand investment cooperation because they are eager to actively advance the upgrade and renovation of the TAZARA Railway.
“China will encourage more of their companies to invest in Tanzania and help build railways, roads, ports, aviation, electricity, information and communications infrastructure, and other infrastructure and Tanzania will continue to improve its business environment and make it easier for Chinese companies to operate in Tanzania. The Chinese side will make it easier for Tanzanian businesses to trade with China,” reads the joint statement
Looking ahead, the two sides agreed to promote industrial complementarity and production capacity cooperation, with a focus on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as energy and mineral development, processing and manufacturing, green development and digital economy, and support Tanzania in moving faster towards industrialisation and modernisation.
The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation on peace and security and collaborate in combating transnational crimes, capacity building, personnel training, equipment and technologies and other fields. The two reached a consensus to step up the protection of the safety and lawful rights and interests of each other’s citizens and institutions within their territories.
The two heads of state also settled on further strengthening cooperation on peace and security and collaborate in combating transnational crimes, capacity building, personnel training, equipment and technologies and other fields, they also agreed to step up the protection of the safety and lawful rights and interests of each other’s citizens and institutions within their territories.
On tourism, they agreed to provide facilitation for holding tourism promotion activities in each other’s country and agreed to hold a China-Tanzania Year of Tourism and Culture at an appropriate time.
Apart from that, the two sides agreed to facilitate academic and media exchanges. The Chinese side will provide more scholarship opportunities for Tanzanian students and continue to send medical teams to the Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.
Tanzania expressed support for the Global Development Initiative put forth by the Chinese side and will actively participate in relevant activities. The Chinese side expressed appreciation for Tanzania’s efforts to promote global and regional peace and development.
The two sides commended the important role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in advancing the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, and agreed to enhance consultation and coordination on FOCAC-related affairs and jointly deliver on the wide-ranging practical cooperation under the Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024).
President Samia expressed heartfelt appreciation to President Xi and the Chinese government and people for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to her during her visit.
Lastly, the two sides agreed on the importance of continuing to have state visits and in that regard, President Samia extended an invitation to President Xi to make another visit to Tanzania in 2024 as part of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
