Tanzania keen to forge stronger ties with China

Tanzania is keen to further strengthen its relations with China on the foundations laid by forefathers of the two countries in the 1960s, said Joram Biswaro, Tanzanian ambassador to Ethiopia.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Thursday, the ambassador said the relations between Tanzania and China have been growing stronger and stronger regardless of changes.

"Bilateral relations go back to the 1960s based on the founding fathers of these two great nations, that is Mao Zedong and Julius Kambarage Nyerere. And as a result of those foundations the bilateral relations between the two countries are growing stronger and stronger irrespective of the changes of administration over time," said the ambassador.

Biswaro said, "China is significantly known to Tanzania and Africa in general as far as the liberation struggle is concerned."

"China built the gigantic project in Africa that is Tanzania Railways that is popularly known Uhuru. It is a modest contribution to the liberation of Africa; that railway and the subsequent pipeline joining Tanzania and Zambia," the Chinese "contribution to the liberation of the continent," added Biswaro.

"And at bilateral levels there are various projects Tanzania, we have significant project known as Friendship Textiles which was also built in the 1960s. It is friendship between Tanzania and China. It is based on such a strong foundation that we can say the bilateral relations between the two countries have remained stronger," he said.

Asked about the visit of the new Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to Tanzania in the near future, and its positive impact on the relations between Tanzania and China, the ambassador replied that the president's visit to Tanzania would further strengthen the relations cherished by the two countries based on previous foundations.

He said the China-Tanzania relations and cooperation is the South-South cooperation whereby Africa is benefited.

"It means that China sees Tanzania is a gate way to establish a friendly climate in all spheres in Africa and it means also that in the 21st century you can't lose an old friend. It is very, very significant. We believe that his visit to Tanzania is that kind of cooperation between first China and Tanzania, and China and Africa, " he said.

Speaking about Tanzania's cooperation with China under the new leadership, he said, "We look forward to forging stronger and stronger with the new leadership in China based on the foundations I have elaborated."

Biswaro sees the forthcoming BRICS Summit scheduled for March 26 in Durban, South Africa as another important event for South- South cooperation.

"We have now BRICS it is also very important basis for this south-south cooperation. I believe that since our cooperation is based on win-win situation we both Tanzania and China and the peoples of these two countries send gain in terms transforming their socio-economic development," noted the Ambassador.