Hon. Prof. Joyce Ndalichako, Minister for Education, Science and Technology,
Hon. Mizengo Pinda, Former Prime Minister
Hon. Job Marecela Lusinde, Fomer Minister for Communication and works
Hon. Issa Haji Gavu, Minister of State President Office-Zanzibar
Hon. Cabinet Ministers and Ministers from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar,
Dear colleagues from the diplomatic corps,
Teachers and Students from the University of Dar es Salaam
My dear compatriots, distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Habari za jioni! Good evening! 晚上好!
Tonight we gather here to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania. This gala event is co-organized by the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you. Karibuni sana! 欢迎各位!I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of you, and through you, to all the friends who have dedicated themselves to China-Tanzania friendship.
On this inportant and auspicious occasion, the State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Hon. Wang Yi, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of China, Hon. Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, exchanged letters of congratulation. Now please allow me to read the letter from the Hon. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi:
Hon. Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi,
Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation
The United Republic of Tanzania
Dodoma
Your Honorable Minister,
On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania, I wish to extend to Your Honorable my warm congratulations and good wishes.
China and Tanzania have enjoyed long-term traditional friendship forged by the leaders of the older generation of our two countries. China-Tanzania friendship has withstood the test of changing international circumstances, and has demonstrated new vitality and vigor in the new era. Recent years have witnessed steady development of our bilateral relations and fruitful cooperation in various fields, which have brought tangible benefits to the peoples of our two countries.
I am ready to work with Your Honorable, seizing the opportunity of jointly implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and the outcomes of Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to promote further development of the mutually beneficial cooperation between our two sides in various fields and better benefit the peoples of both countries.
Wang Yi
State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs
The People's Republic of China
Beijing, April 20, 2019
Ladies and gentlemen,
It was on 26th of April, 1964, the first Union Day of Tanzania, the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with the Untied Republic of Tanzania, which made China among the first group of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Tanzania. Since then, the destinies of our two countries have been closely intertwined. Hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, we have gone through an extraordinary 55 years. In 2013, when Chinese President Xi Jinping made his maiden foreign trip, he came to Africa, and Tanzania was his first stop of state visit. It was in Tanzania that President Xi Jinping proposed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in developing relations with Africa. These concepts have been further defined as China's guiding principles in its relations with developing countries. These demonstrate that China-Tanzania relations are special and exemplary not only in China-Africa relations but in South-South cooperation.
During the past 55 years, China and Tanzania enjoyed rock-solid political trust. At this very moment, we are holding the most memories of the founding fathers and visionary leaders of our two countries, Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, President of Zanzibar Abeid Karume and others, who established and nurtured China-Tanzania friendship and solidarity. We are proud that China helped Tanzania train freedom fighters, provided a large amount of financial and technological assistance, and through Tanzania supported the national liberation movements in southern African countries. We never forget that in 1965, despite of strong external pressure, Tanzania as the first country in eastern and southern Africa, signed the Treaty of Friendship with China. In 1971, Tanzania rendered its firm support to the People's Republic of China in the effort to restore China's lawful seat in the United Nations. Recent years have witnessed the continuous deepening of strategic trust between our two countries, increasingly close bilateral communications at various fields and levels, including national and local governments, political parties, and legislative bodies, ever frequent exchanges on the experiences of governance, and mutual support on issues of each other's core interests and major concerns.
During the past 55 years, China and Tanzania developed pragmatic cooperation with rich achievements in multiple forms, including aid, trade, investment, financing and contract,and in wide range of areas such as infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mining. China has been the largest trading partner of Tanzania for 3 consecutive years. In 2018, our bilateral trade volume reached 4 billion US dollars. Moreover, China is the largest foreign investor in Tanzania with a total investment of 7 billion US dollars and over 700 investment projects which have created about 150 thousand direct local jobs. Through concerted efforts by China and Tanzania, we proudly made many projects the "largest" or the "first" in Tanzania and even in Africa. For instance, Tanzania-Zambia Railway remains one of China's largest foreign aid projects; the Nyerere Bridge is the first cable-stayed sea-crossing bridge in east Africa; This Dar es Salaam University Library is the largest China-aided library in Africa; the National ICT Broadband Backbone Project is the first "National Information Highway" in Tanzania; and the Ubungo overpass in Dar es Salaam whose construction is underway, is going to be the first multi-level and multi-span interchange in Tanzania. The past 55 years have also witnessed China continuously sending medical teams, military and agricultural experts to Tanzania, to support the national development and improvement in people's livelihood in Tanzania.
During the past 55 years, China and Tanzania maintained active people-to-people exchanges, with expansion of cooperation in education, culture and health as well as the interactions between non-governmental organizations, think-tanks and media, deepening the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples. By far, China has offered more than 1700 government scholarships and over 6000 training opportunities to Tanzania. China is becoming a major destination for young Tanzanians to pursue their education and work. We organized the activity of celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Tanzania for ten years in a row and the Tanzania international martial arts competition for 6 consecutive years, both of which have enriched the cultural and sporting life of the local people. Meanwhile, the unique cultural features and rich natural landscape in Tanzania are favored by a large number of Chinese people. More and more Chinese have listed Tanzania as a destination in their overseas traveling plan. A large Chinese group tour to Tanzania titled "Tour Africa the New Horizon" is about to be launched. We are also pleased to see that many Chinese people who are living and working in Tanzania and Tanzanians in China are trying to adapt to the local society and contributing to the economic development in the hosting countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When looking back the past 55 years, there are three main reasons that can be summarized for the achievement in China-Tanzania relations. Firstly, China and Tanzania insist on mutual respect and equal treatment by regarding others as its honest, reliable and trustworthy friend. In face of some differences, our two countries can conduct friendly negotiation and reach mutual understanding and mutual accommodation without imposing one's will on the other or interfering the other's internal affairs. Secondly, China and Tanzania insist on pursuing common interests and putting friendship first in our cooperation, and trying to turn the advantage in mutual political trust into pragmatic results of our cooperation. Thirdly, China and Tanzania insist on cooperation of benefit, win-win outcome and common development by committing ourselves to facilitating the inclusive, common and sustainable development of our two countries without pursuing unilateral profits or sacrificing the other's benefits. These are precious spirit jointly fostered by generations of Chinese and Tanzanian people and will continue to be the fundamental principles to create a brighter future for China-Tanzania relations.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As a Chinese proverb says, "Distance tests a horse's strength. Time reveals a person's character." Tanzanians also say, "Akufaaye kwa dhiki ndiye rafiki." Years of devotion from leaders and peoples of both countries culminate this exemplary China-Tanzania friendship. Let's cherish it and work more closely to ensure the future of our relations and cooperation more robust and fruitful.
We should increase high-level visits, enhance policy dialogue and synergy of development strategies, continue to support each other in safeguarding sovereignty, security, development and other core interests, conduct more exchanges in the experience of governance and development, so as to consolidate the political pillar in China-Tanzania relations.
We should seize the opportunities of implementing the outcome of the 2018 Beijing FOCAC Summit and the Belt and Road Initiative to promote win-win cooperation. From tomorrow to April 27, the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held in Beijing, China. Some 5,000 participants from more than 150 countries and 90 international organizations have confirmed their attendance. Former President of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Kikwete and Minister for Works, Transport and Communication Hon. Engineer Isack Kamwelwe are currently in China to attend the forum. We are confident to see more beneficial results in China-Tanzania cooperation in our joint effort to build the Belt and Road.
I am also happy to announce that Tanzania will participate as the guest of honour at the First China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo this June. Tanzania is also invited to set up its country pavilion at the 2nd China International Import Expo this November. The two major economic and trade events will provide Tanzania with stages to showcase its products and boost our bilateral trade, especially Tanzanian export to China. In the meantime, China will encourage its companies to invest more in Tanzania and support the economic and social development of this country.
We should give more impetus to people-to-people exchanges, encouraging interactions between members of all communities of our two countries. We will also give priority to people's well-being, so that people, who give the most support for the cooperation, will benefit the most from it.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Five months ago, during the hand-over ceremony of this library, H.E. President John Pombe Magufuli said in his speech, that the library is a treasure-trove for all Tanzanians, that he hoped the university should make every effort to manage and make full use of this library to benefit Tanzanians, for a hundred years and many more years to come. This is not only His Excellency's praise for our cooperation but also weight of his expectations for young Tanzanians. The young generation are the inheritors and the future of our deep-rooted friendship. China will continue to support education and capacity building in Tanzania, It is my hope that more young people from our two countries will join in and devote to the consolidation of China-Tanzania friendship.
China and Tanzania are standing at another historical start, let us embark on a new journey of comprehensive cooperation, to contribute to the welfare of peoples of both countries, and to the realization of Vision 2025 of Tanzania.
Finally, may all-weather and brotherly relations between China and Tanzania last forever, may all of you health and happiness, and everybody enjoy a wonderful night!
Thank you! Asanteni Sana! 谢谢大家!