On March 24, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Dar es Salaam, kicking off his state visit to Tanzania.
Today's Dar es Salaam is sunny and bright. Julius Nyerere International Airport was overflowed with a warm atmosphere of friendliness, where the national flags of China and Tanzania flied in the wind. The local people, dressed in festive costumes, were waving colorful banners, happily awaiting the arrival of the Chinese guests.
At about 16:25 local time, Xi's special plane arrived at the airport. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan went down the ladder and were warmly greeted by Tanzanian President Kikwete and his wife. The two heads of state shook hands and Tanzanian children presented flowers to the guests. Xi was also greeted by Tanzania's Vice President Mohamed Gharib Bilal and Prime Minister Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda as well as several cabinet members at the airport and cordially shook hands and exchanged greetings with them.
The Tanzanian government held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi at the airport. The two heads of state mounted to the inspection platform and the military band played the national anthems of the two countries and fired 21 gun salutes. Xi inspected the guards of honor and the march-past. Later, waving the national flags of the two countries, the dancing local people cheered for China-Tanzania friendship. Xi watched African-style singing and dancing in the company of President Kikwete.
In a written statement upon his arrival, Xi conveyed the cordial greetings and good wishes from Chinese people to Tanzanian people. Xi lauded the traditional brotherly friendship between China and Tanzania, describing the two countries as all-weather friends. He added the friendship was deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples. The Chinese president said his visit is aimed at consolidating the traditional friendship, charting the course for future cooperation and promoting common development. He believed the visit will surely inject new vigor and vitality into the development of bilateral friendly cooperative relations.
Xi's entourage including Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechi arrived by the same plane.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Lv Youqing also greeted Xi at the airport.
Xi flew into Dar es Salaam from Moscow by special plane after concluding his state visit to Russia. Upon leaving Moscow, Xi attended a grand farewell ceremony held by the Russian side at the airport. The Russian military band played the national anthems of the two countries and Xi inspected the three-service honor guards through wind and snow.
This is Xi's first visit to Africa as Chinese president. After Tanzania, Xi will also travel to South Africa and the Republic of Congo for state visits. In South Africa, he will attend the fifth BRICS summit in the port city of Durban on March 26-27.