CHINA-Tanzania friendship dates back to ancient time. Based on historical records, 600 years ago Captain Zheng led a vessel fleet to the present-day Kilwa in Tanzania, which is the southern end of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
But latest archaeological discoveries show that 200 years earlier than Zheng He, China had already been in trade and cultural exchanges with Tanzania.
Since China and Tanzania established diplomatic ties in 1964, our two governments and peoples have shared weal and woe in joint hands and created great stories of friendship.
In the 1970s, 50 thousand Chinese technicians came to Tanzania from thousands of miles away and built the world-known TAZARA. This Uhuru Railway and Friendship Railway not only broke the foreign blockade against the newly independent East and South African countries, but also greatly promoted the economic and social development along the railway.
Chinese medical teams were also sent to assist Tanzania's disease prevention and medical care development. Even today many Chinese medical experts are still working in Tanzania and the song of "Chinese Medical Team in Tanzania" has been popular for half a century.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian government and people have always firmly supported China on all major issues concerning Chinese core interests. Over 40 years ago, despite heavy pressure from western countries, Tanzania together with other African friends helped China regain the legitimate seat in UN. Tanzania also extended its full support to China's entry into WTO.
In 2008, Tanzania was the only African country receiving Olympic Torch and Tanzanian people expressed their happiness and pride for China's hosting 2008 Olympic Games with great passion. In the 21st century within the framework of FOCAC, China and Tanzania enjoyed deeper exchanges and cooperation in all fields and achieved remarkable success.
Especially since Chinese President Xi's visit to Tanzania in March 2013, our two state leaders decided to build China-Tanzania relations into a comprehensive cooperative partnership with mutual benefit and win-win results, which injected new vitality to our bilateral ties.
Now, China has become Tanzania's largest trade partner and the second largest foreign investor, with bilateral trade volume of 3.7 billion USD, Chinese FDI of 2.5 billion USD, and local job creation of 150 thousand. Looking ahead, China-Tanzania economic and trade cooperation has great potential and promise.
Africa's development is attracting global attention and a new miracle is arising on this mysterious and promising continent. Tanzania as a shining pearl of this continent, had its own unique developing advantages.
It locates on the eastern coast of Africa with major ports of strategic importance; it has a big regional influence as a renowned "frontier country"; it, for decades, enjoys social and political stability; it enriches in natural resources with an estimated 46.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves; it experiences over 7% GDP growth rate for the past decade and witnesses improved infrastructure.
Currently, based on its own comparative advantages and through attracting more Chinese investment, Tanzania is growing into the East African manufacturing, logistic, ICT and tourism centres and becoming the first few models of African industrialization.
China cannot develop without Africa and Africa will for sure benefit from China's development. The four principles of "sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith" proposed by Chinese President Xi has pointed the developing direction of China-Tanzania relations and the "461" cooperation framework proposed by Chinese Premier Li has drawn the blueprint for the prospects of China-Tanzania relations.
During the achievement of "Chinese Dream" and "African Dream", China and Tanzania will keep closer cooperation and such cooperation with mutual benefit and win-win results will become the model of China-Africa cooperation.
In this new era, Tanzania as an important stop along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, will be rejuvenated and China-Tanzania friendship will grow from strength to strength. *His Excellency Lu Youqing is the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania.
Source: allAfrica
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