Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda agreed here on Thursday to strengthen the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries. Noting that next year China and Tanzania will mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Li said China is willing to work out strategic plans with Tanzania and promote cooperation on major projects.
China will continue to provide assistance for Tanzania within its capacity and hopes the East African country will offer support to Chinese enterprises, Li said.
Speaking about China-Africa relations, Li said promoting the two sides' friendly cooperation is an important aspect of China's foreign policy. China is willing to work with African countries to create a peaceful and stable environment
for development.
Pinda said the Tanzania-China friendship enjoys a solid foundation. He expressed admiration for China's development and hoped to learn from China. He also said Tanzania wants to increase mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen coordination on international affairs with China to cement the two counties' friendly relations.
He thanked China for its support for peace and development in Africa and said Tanzania is ready to cooperate with China under the framework of the Africa-China Cooperation Forum. After the meeting, they witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries in various fields, including diplomacy, economy, technology, tourism and agriculture.
In just the first two days of his visit, the vigilant Premier has already signed at least five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. The MoUs cover the science and technology industry, another encompasses the sell of ocean products to China, while another one the tourism industry.
Also there is one covering textile process zone meant to boost cotton farming in the country and finally an MoU to offer land for the construction of a modernised Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam. Apart from the five MoUs the Pinda also brought Keqiang‘s attention to the importance of China’s investment in Tanzania’s agriculture, energy, education and infrastructure sectors.
According to the PM, China’s concessional loans to Tanzania have been the most affordable compared to loans from other countries.
Today the Premier is expected to officially open a ten-day workshop to be attended by 20 Tanzanian government officials from the Uongozi Institute of Tanzania and China’s Uongozi Institute as well. They will also visit several firms including the China Power Investment (CPI), an aluminum production plant and the third-largest national oil company in the country, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC Group.
Pinda is also scheduled to meet a Tobacco firm’s board on the same day and later in the evening, the Prime Minister will convene and dine with Tanzanians living in Beijing.
Sources: News.cn and Ippmedia.com
