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Speech of Ambassador Chen Mingjian at the Reception in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
2024-09-26 00:27

Your Honorable Palamagamba Kabudi, Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania,

Your Honorable Cde. John Mongella, Deputy Secretary General of CCM,

Your Honorable Amb. Liberata Mulamula, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation,

Major General Hawa Issa Kodi, Chief of Logistics and Engineering, TPDF,

Your Excellency Amb. of Union of Comoros, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Tanzania,

Your Excellencies Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Representatives of the International Organizations,

Friends from governmental departments and different sectors of Tanzania,

My Chinese compatriots,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Habari za jioni!

Today, we are gathered here to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, I would like to extend a sincere welcome to all the guests attending the reception, and congratulate all the Chinese compatriots in Tanzania on the holiday. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to all the friends who have been consistent contributors to the friendship between China and Tanzania!

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. In the past 75 years, China has developed from an impoverished and backward land into achieving self-sufficient, self-improvement and self reliance. China’s GDP has increased over 223 times at constant prices. China has carried out reform and opening up, turning China into the world’s second largest economy, top trader in goods, second top trader in services and second largest consumer market. China has built itself into a moderately prosperous society in all respects and have wiped out absolute poverty, contributing 70 percent to world poverty reduction. In the new era, we have focused on high-quality development. China’s economic aggregate accounts for 17% of the world’s total, contributing over 30% to world economic growth in the past ten years, making China the major engine driving global economic growth.

At present, China’s economy has seen a significant development: More than half of the global renewable power generation capacity comes from China, ranking first in the world for many years in a row, and making positive contributions to the global green economy transition and global response to climate change. Digital economy including AI, cloud-computing and 5G has become a new fashion, ranking second in the world. China also ranks first in terms of e-commerce and mobile payment transactions in the world. China has made significant progress in technological innovation. From Chang’e lunar mission to BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and to China’s deep-sea manned submersible “Striver” setting a national diving record, are all results of China’s significant advancement in science and technology, making China the only middle-income economy top 30 in the Global Innovation Index.

Last July, the 3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committe of CPC held successfully. The session adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization and put forward over 300 reform measures, sending a strong message that China will expand high-standard opening up and share outcomes in the high-quality development. These important measures put forward by the Session will provide institutional safeguards for further deepening reform comprehensively and expanding high-quality opening up, sharing its new development dividends with the world economy. China’s opening up welcomes participation of Tanzania and other countries.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tanzania. After 60 years of spring blossom and autumn fruits, it indeed deserves a high-profile celebration. China and Tanzania have held a series of celebration events, including the reception for Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, the China-Tanzania Youth Dialogue, the Forum for Shared Development of China-Tanzania and China’s hospital ship Peace Ark’s visit to Tanzania, starting a craze of jointly celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Let me summarize briefly: In terms of bilateral political relations, Tanzania is China’s long-standing friend and the place where China’s Africa policy - sincerity, real results, amity and good faith - was first proposed in the new era. Our bilateral relations have been elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in 2022. “China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus” which embodied the common understanding of Sino-African think tanks was also published here.

In terms of bilateral practical cooperation, China is the largest trading partner and source country of investment of Tanzania. High-quality agricultural products from Tanzania, such as cashew nuts, avocados, aquatic products and honey, have brought into Chinese market. The export of chili from Tanzania is currently in progress. It is expected that Tanzania’s export to China will continue to expand. As Tanzania’s largest source of investment, China’s investment in Tanzania has yielded remarkable results, not only creating a large number of job opportunities, but also greatly promoting the construction of major infrastructure in Tanzania. A series of landmark projects, including the Magufuli Bridge, the SGR and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant, are the vivid practices of China building a China-Tanzania community with a shared future. Yesterday, I read newspaper, and it covered the speech of Minister for Works, Hon. Bashungwa. He said there are only 2 meters left for Magufuli Bridge closure. Taking this opportunity, I would like to share a good news, that is Tanzania will be a guest country once again at the 7th China International Import Expo.

In terms of people-to-people exchanges, this year marks China-Tanzania Tourism and Culture Year. The beautiful scenery of Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar have attracted more and more Chinese visitors to Tanzania, surpassing 44 thousand people last year. I believe this figure will increase further this year.

It is worth mentioning that, a Chinese TV series, Welcome to Milele recorded mainly in Tanzania, has been aired via Azam TV. This TV series featured by Chinese Medical Team to Africa tells the story of the long-standing China-Tanzania friendship that surmounts mountains and oceans, arousing public interests of Tanzanian friends.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

The 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit was successfully concluded recently. I was honored to accompany the participation of the Tanzanian president H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan and the delegation. The Summit is another grand reunion of China-Africa big family, and also the largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders. During the Summit, the leaders of China and Africa gathered around the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future” to chart the way forward for cooperation and produced fruitful achievements. China and Africa adopted unanimously, the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era and the Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027) of FOCAC. China and Africa will advance modernization in six aspects and ten partnership actions hand in hand, and the Summit announced the new measures for China-Africa results-oriented cooperation across the board in the next three years. The international community spoke highly of the role this historic Summit played in setting a new monument for China-Africa relations and a stellar example for South-South cooperation.

Tanzania has always been actively participating in, advancing and benefiting from the FOCAC. The Tanzanian presidential delegation successfully attended the Summit. President Samia delivered remarks on behalf of the East Africa at the opening ceremony, held meeting with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders agreed to elevate the common values and leading role of our bilateral relations. Chinese, Tanzanian and Zambian presidents jointly witnessed the signing of MoU on the revitalization of the TAZARA railway, which became one of the highlights of the Summit. China and Tanzania signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of connectivity, agricultural product, trade etc,. President Samia held talks with a number of major Chinese enterprises and investors had expressed their interests in various fields. I believe and hope that China and Tanzania will conduct closer cooperation under the ten partnership actions.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

President Xi Jinping once quoted a famous African proverb, if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together, highlighting the interdependence and interconnectedness of peoples. China will forge ahead with Tanzania, continue to be friend and partner of Tanzania on the path to modernization, and make greater contribution to jointly building an All-Weather China-Tanzania Community with a Shared Future in New Era.

Let me conclude with a toast:

To the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,

To the prosperity of both China, Tanzania and all the countries,

To the health of all our guests and your family,

Cheers! Ansanteni sana!

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