DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa stated on Saturday that as Tanzania and China look to the future of their partnership, renewable energy technology and climate change mitigation will be key drivers of the next phase of cooperation.
Officiating at the 10th anniversary of the Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association (TCFPA), the Premier said over the decade, Tanzania-China diplomatic, social and economic relations have grown stronger.
“I commend the association for this commitment. Chinese people and Tanzanian counterparts have been friends for many years,” he stated.
In the past 14 years, China has been a largest direct investment and that in 2023, trade volume between Tanzania and China stood at 8.3 billion US dollar.
Moreover, the Premier said many Tanzanian students have benefitted from scholarships to study in China. He added that China has been critical partner to Tanzania in the health sector and that over years, the country has been sending medical team to Tanzania.
Earlier, Former Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, chairman of the TCFPA board of trustees said the two countries have been friends for decades, dating back from the Tazara Railway construction era in 1970s.
Mr Pinda said the association has tried its best to unite people from the two countries and that China is among the Tanzania’s largest direct foreign investment and reliable trading partners.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Chen Mingjian, sent her gratitude to TCFPA for achievements in strengthening friendship between the two countries.
Ambassador Chen highlighted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Tanzania and China, a partnership that has grown stronger over the years.
She noted that in 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tanzania and that over the past two years, President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President Xi Jinping have met twice to further enhance bilateral ties.
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Ambassador Chen also pointed out that over the past 60 years, more than 2,000 Chinese specialist doctors have been dispatched to Tanzania to provide medical services.
Moreover, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania reached a new record high this year, surpassing 54,000.
“I commend the TCFPA for its efforts, which have played a significant role in these achievements,” the Ambassador said.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr Cosato Chumi remarked that the association marks a decade of successful collaboration between the two countries.
“This anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on our shared history. Tanzania and China have a deep, enduring bond. It is crucial to recognise the solid foundation laid by the founders of both nations. The TCFPA has played a pivotal role in strengthening the ties between our countries,” said Mr Chumi.
