Tanzania diplomatic ties take notch higher
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA diplomatic relations continue to strengthen as President Samia Suluhu Hassan is set for the three state visits to Indonesia, the Vatican and Norway this week and next month.
More significantly, in the same period, the country will receive three foreign top leaders including the Deputy Prime Minister of China, Mr Liu Guozhong, who will jet into Dar es Salaam today.
“President Samia visits to Indonesia, Vatican and Norway as well as foreign top leaders’ visits in the country signal progress in strategic cooperation between Tanzania and other countries,” Minister for Foreign Affairs and East Africa Cooperation, Mr January Makamba told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
These visits are catalysts for deepening cooperation, especially in strategic areas including trade, investment, tourism, energy, diplomacy, good governance, health and technology,” Mr Makamba said.
He said shortly after arriving today, the China Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Guozhong is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Samia, Prime Minister Mr Kassim Majaliwa and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Doto Biteko.
Detailing the visits, Mr Makamba said President Samia will kick off her visit to Indonesia from January 24 to 26 this year, following an invitation from her counterpart, Mr Joko Widodo, who visited Tanzania in August last year.
He said the visit intends to bolster diplomatic relations and economic cooperation between the two countries in various sectors including trade and investment, agriculture, energy, mineral, livestock and blue economy.
Mr Makamba said President Samia on February 11 and 12 this year will visit the Vatican following an invitation from Pope Francis. The minister said that the diplomatic relationship with the Vatican started in the 1960s when the latter opened up an embassy in Tanzania.
In another development, Mr Makamba said President Dr Samia will visit the Kingdom of Norway from February 13 to 14 this year after being invited by the Norwegian King, Mr Helard and Queen Sonja, noting that the visit marks 60 years of bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
He said while in Norway, President Samia will hold bilateral talks with King Helard, and participate in the Tanzania and Noway Business Forum, and the Oslo Energy Symposium.
On the other hand, on the list of top leaders who will visit Tanzania, Mr Makamba said the country will receive Cuban Vice-President, Mr Salvador Valdes Mesa, who will be in the country from tomorrow to Thursday.
He said while in the country, the Cuban Vice-President will undertake bilateral discussions with President Dr Samia, the Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson and telephone conservation with the President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Mwinyi.
Mr Makamba said Mr Mesa will also greet the Tanzania founding Father, Julius Nyerere’s widow Mama Maria Nyerere and later on visit the Biolarvicide Factory located in Coast Region, which is operated by Tanzania in collaboration with Cuba.
Additionally, he said from February 8 to 9 this year, the Polish President, Mr Andrzej Duda will be in Tanzania on a visit aiming at cementing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
Mr Makamba said Poland and Tanzania collaborate in different infrastructure projects, wildlife conservation, education, water, environment conservation, trade and investment, and cooperation of parliament of the two countries.
He said Mr Duda’s visit to Tanzania will open new areas of cooperation including security and defence, energy, minerals and the blue economy.
