China established diplomatic relations with Tanganyika and Zanzibar on December 9, 1961and December 11, 1963 respectively. When Tanganyika and Zanzibar were united and became Tanzania on April 26, 1964, it is natural for China to extend its diplomatic ties with Tanzania. China took the union day as the date of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United Republic of Tanzania. Sino-Tanzanian relations have witnessed a long-term healthy and steady development since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Tanzania is China's largest aid recipient country in Africa. Since 1964, China has provided various kinds of assistance to Tanzania. Main Chinese-supported projects In Tanzania are as follows: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara), Friendship Textile Mill, Mubarali Rice Farm, Kiwira Coal Mine and Mahonda Sugar Cane Factory. China-Tanzanian joint venture cooperation started in the 1960s and has been developing rapidly in recent years. At present, there are eight Sino-Tanzanian joint ventures established in Tanzania. Among which Tanzania-China Friendship Textile Corporate Ltd, which was re-organized on the basis of the former Chinese-supported Friendship Textile Mill by using the interest-subsidized preferential credit provided by the Chinese Government, serves as a successful example for mutually beneficial cooperation. China-Tanzanian mutually beneficial cooperation began in 1981 and there are now more than 19 companies carrying out the business of labor contracts and services in Tanzania. In December, 1997, China Investment and Trade Promotion Center was established in Tanzania.
In 2007, the total trade volume between China and Tanzania were US$290 million, of which China's export was US$180 million and import US$110 million. China's main exports to Tanzania are: foodstuff, vehicles, textiles, light industrial products, chemical products, mechanical equipment, electric appliances and steel. Tanzania's main exports to China are: dry seafood, raw leather, and log, coarse copper and wooden handcrafts.
The agreements signed between China and Tanzania include: The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania (June 1964); The Trade Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania (February 1965); The Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of Republic of Zambia on the Construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (September 1967); The Barter Trade Protocol between the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania (March 1984); The Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania on the Establishment of a Joint Economic and Trade Commission (August 1985); The Framework Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for the Provision of an Interest-Subsidized Preferential Credit by China to Tanzania (1996 and 1997).