Tanzania, China to enhance ties

Tanzania, China to enhance ties

BY Rose Athumani
Tanzania Daily News

DAR ES SALAAM- Tanzania will next week receive yet again a high level visit from China to foster ties between the two countries and also to commemorate 50 years of excellent cooperation and relationship.

Addressing a press conference, the Tanzanian Ambassador to China, Lt. General (rtd) Abdulrahaman Shimbo, said Vice- President Li Yuanchao will arrive on June 21 this year at the Kilimanjaro International Airport.

“The objective of the official visit by Vice-President Li Yuanchao is to foster the brotherly relationship between China and Tanzania which this year reaches 50 years since 1964 when the cordial relationship started between the two countries,” Ambassador Shimbo explained.

He said while in Arusha Region the Chinese VP will visit tourists’ attraction sites such as Ngorongoro Crater on June 22 before flying to Dar es Salaam in the evening.

“The Chinese Vice- President’s visit comes at the right time as we mark 50 years of diplomatic relationship between the two countries. His visit is also at the heels of leaders’ visits from the two countries which have been a catalyst for economic development.

While in Dar es Salaam, Vice-President Yuanchao will hold high level discussions with government leaders and attend a series of important events including the second Tanzania- China Investment Forum, Ambassador Shimbo noted.

On June 25 the Chinese VP will visit Zanzibar where he will hold discussions with Zanzibar Second Vice-President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, before returning to Dar es Salaam on June 26 ready for his departure to China.

On his part, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, said the visit by the Chinese Vice-President will further enhance China- Tanzania experience sharing in the fields of economic development and poverty reduction.

He said the visit precipitated by an invitation from Tanzanian Vice-President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal will continue to implement the outcome of President Xi Jinping’s visit last year.

“The focus will be experience- sharing of good governance, restructuring of the economic cooperation and enhancing people to people exchange,” he said.

He added that the Chinese Vice- President will also have bilateral talks with President Jakaya Kikwete, Vice- President Dr Bilal, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and attend a series of events.

Dr Youqing said China and Tanzania are both developing countries which have encountered similar difficulties and problems and could learn from each other’s experience towards attaining mutual and sustainable development.

“During his visit to Tanzania, Vice-President Li will not only exchange ideas on development and poverty reduction with Tanzanian officials but also will encourage Chinese investors and companies to connect with Tanzanian local government and private sector to explore cooperative opportunities for mutual benefit,” Dr Youqing explained.

Dr Youqing said Tanzania in the 60s and 70s was in the frontline fighting for liberation of other African nations and in the 21st century Tanzania has once again become an example in development and poverty reduction.

He added that the Chinese VP will also lay a foundation stone to a new landmark of the country where an investment of US 77 million dollars will see the construction of a 29-storey Mwl. Nyerere Foundation Square.

He said the project is cooperation between the government of China, Tanzania and the World Bank. Vice-President Yuanchao will also attend a joint Conference of Confucius Institutes, the reception of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of China-Tanzania diplomatic relations and visit several China-Tanzania cooperative projects.

The High level delegation will stay in the country for six days and attend more than 20 events, which have special significance in promoting China-Tanzania relations.

_________
Video: From 2013 Background- A long history of friendship between China and Tanzania

__________
Video: Tanzania’s budget expectations
June 12, 2014

__________
Tanzania

Population:
Population: 49,639,138

Racial Diversity
Mainland – African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 ethnic groups), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar – Arab, African, mixed Arab and African

Religions:
Mainland- Muslim 35%, Traditional African Religion 35% and Christian 30%
Zanzibar- more than 99% Muslim

_______________

Dar es Salaam
Population: 3.588 million (2011)

__________
Video: Dar es Salaam skyline

_________
Video: Dar es Salaam

__________