‘Samia tour vital, symbolic’

…TZ exports to China to hit 2.3tri/- in 2025

TANZANIA’s export to China is expected to increase to 1billion US dollars (About 2.3tri/-) in the year 2025, from the current 600 million US dollars (about 1.4tri/-).

This was said by the Tanzania Ambassador to China, Mbelwa Kairuki during an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) ahead of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s state visit to the Asian giant.

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Yesterday, President Samia flew to China for a state visit, in response to the invitation of her host, President Xi Jinping. It’s among the first trips by national leaders to China after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

“This is a historic and significant visit because it’s the first time President Samia is flying to China since she came to power in March 2021, moreover, the visit is taking place immediately after the 20th congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC),” he said.

The just concluded CPC congress appointed President Xi to head China for the third term.

He also termed the trip as a symbol of unity and mutual understanding, since the Chinese President Xi visited Tanzania on his first visit to Africa in 2013 after he took office in 2012.

“This is continuation of symbolism that signifies excellent, all weather friendship that the two countries have been enjoying for the past 58 years,” he added.

Mr Kairuki went on to explain that the two countries have continued to maintain the cordial relationship in multiple sectors of development, including the construction industry.

According to him, in the past three years, Chinese enterprises implemented projects worth 8.5 billion US dollars in Tanzania.

The visit will also pave the way for increasing Tanzania’s export to China, especially on crops that are in high demand.

“Currently, China is in need of soybeans, whose demand is 100 million tonnes per year… it’s high time Tanzanian farmers make better use of this opportunity by cultivating this crop, the embassy is ready to provide all the needed support,” he assured

During her visit to China, President Samia will meet her host President Xi at the Great Hall of People in Beijing.

The two leaders will also witness signing of various contracts and Memorandums of Understandings (MoU) for mutual interest of the two countries.

Some of the areas of cooperation include infrastructural development, agriculture, science and technology investment, business and marketing,

“She will also hold talks with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Speaker of the Parliament Li Zhanshu,” read part of the statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications.

By October this year, a total of 1,098 Chinese projects worth 9.6 billion US dollars were registered at Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) for the mainland, while some 15 worth 202.2 million US dollars were registered in Zanzibar.

“The projects have created a total of 300,000 jobs for Tanzanians as a result of improving living standards of locals in both parts of the union”,

“Tanzania has benefited from China in so many areas, including education, health, loans and grants,” said Mr Kairuki, adding that a total of 725 Tanzanians had studied in China in the past two years.

In another development, Mr Kairuki said that the country expects to receive 500,000 tourists from China by the year 2025, given the ongoing efforts being taken to market tourism destinations available locally.

“Right now the national airline carrier Air Tanzania flies twice a week to China, plans are on cards to add one more flight here, this will enable us to meet the target of having 500,000 tourists by 2025,” he explained.

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