Chinese FM holds talks with Tanzanian counterpart on bilateral cooperation

CHATO -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Jan 8 held talks here with his Tanzanian counterpart Palamagamba Kabudi on bilateral cooperation.

Wang said China-Tanzania relations are precious treasure forged by late Chairman Mao Zedong, the late Premier Zhou Enlai, then President Julius Nyerere and other leaders of the older generation of the two countries, which should be passed on from generation to generation and carried forward.

Tanzania was the first African country that President Xi Jinping visited after he took office as the Chinese president in 2013. During that visit, Xi proposed the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith for China to deal with its relations with Africa, he said.

The recent telephone conversation between the two heads of state charted the course for the future development of bilateral relations. China is ready to carry forward the traditional friendship with Tanzania, inject new connotation into bilateral relations and push for greater development of China-Tanzania relations in the new era, Wang added.

China firmly supports Tanzania in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, taking a development path that suits its national conditions, opposing external interference and playing a more important role in the international and regional arena, especially in African affairs, he said.

We believe that Tanzania will continue to stand with China on issues concerning China's core interests. China is ready to strengthen exchange of governance experience with Tanzania, advance and discuss practical cooperation in railway, infrastructure and agriculture in line with Tanzania's national development needs and encourage Chinese companies to import more Tanzanian products, Wang added.

"Tanzania is an advocate of Pan-Africanism and African solidarity. China stands firmly on the side of developing countries and holds high the banner of multilateralism. China's development is a growing force for peace, for justice and for other developing countries," said Wang.

China highly appreciates Tanzania's important contribution to maintaining African solidarity and stability as well as strengthening China-Africa cooperation, said Wang.

China is ready to work with Tanzania to reflect on and design a blueprint for the development of China-Africa relations in the new era to strengthen the construction of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), push China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future with stronger measures, Wang added.

China is willing to work with Tanzania to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries on the international and regional stage, he said.

Kabudi, for his part, said Tanzania-China relations were jointly forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries and China is Tanzania's all-weather partner and best friend.

In the face of the complex and volatile international situation, the Tanzanian side regards China as its most trustworthy and staunch friend and partner. The Tanzanian government will always support China's position on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, he said.

Kabudi said the Tanzanian side thanked China for its strong support during Tanzania's struggle for independence and development, adding that the country hopes to further deepen Tanzania-China cooperation in infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, fisheries and other fields, in a bid to jointly promote the construction of the "Belt and Road" and continuously strengthen the special friendship between Tanzania and China for the benefit of the two peoples.

Tanzania is ready to deepen cooperation with China under the framework of the FOCAC and work closely with China on international and regional issues, he said.

Tanzania and China have stood side by side through thick and thin in the past and will continue to work together in the future, Kabudi added.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern. Ministers of Finance and Planning, Energy, Livestock and Fisheries, Industry and Trade, Transportation, Education, Science and Technology, Minerals and Defense attended the talks.