Tanzania, China strengthen ties for mutual benefit

DAR ES SALAAM: CHINA has reiterated its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Tanzania, aiming for mutual economic and strategic benefits.

Bilateral trade reached 8.88 billion US dollars last year, up slightly from 8.78 billion US dollars in 2023, maintaining China’s position as Tanzania’s top trading partner and reflecting steady growth in their economic ties.

Speaking at the ICT Talent Annual Ceremony 2025 at the University of Dar es Salaam, Ambassador Chen Mingjian highlighted China’s enduring commitment to Tanzania, particularly in technological cooperation.

“The Chinese government has long focused on advancing technological innovation in the information and communication sector, helping to bridge the digital divide and stimulate economic growth,” Ambassador Chen said.

Beyond trade, China remains Tanzania’s largest foreign investor and leading engineering contractor, with education and skills development forming a core part of the bilateral partnership.

Last year alone, China awarded over 400 scholarships to Tanzanian university students and facilitated more than 900 training opportunities in information technology.

The ICT Talent Challenge, organised by Huawei Tanzania since 2018, continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing digital skills, empowering young innovators and strengthening Tanzania’s ICT ecosystem.

Over 4,000 students have participated to date.

In the most recent competition, a team from the University of Dodoma secured second place globally, while the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology team won first place worldwide in the digital knowledge category.

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Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) Director General, Mr Amosi Nungu emphasised the importance of such initiatives in equipping youth with critical technological skills.

“These programmes provide young people with advanced technological knowledge essential for thriving in today’s digital economy,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to fostering an enabling environment for Tanzanian youth to access digital opportunities locally and internationally.