"The 'All-weather' friendship between China and Tanzania has withstood the tests of both international and domestic situation changes. Both sides have achieved long-term mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support with fruitful cooperations in various fields of economic, cultural, education, health and military," a top Chinese diplomat said in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Liu Xinsheng termed the bilateral relateions between China and Tanzania as an "example" of sincere cooperation and unity between China and Africa, even among the developing countries.
He noted that the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in 2006 has provided opportunities to the progress and development of the Sino-African and Sino-Tanzanian relations, with the traditional friendship established by the old generation leaders of both countries injected with new vigor.
China and Tanzania reached common grounds on enhancing mutual-benefit cooperation through political exchanges, expanding economic, trade and exports, as well as people-to-people exchanges and more cooperations on international affairs during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Tanzania in February this year and the state visit by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to China in April 2008, which outlined the new guidelines for the smooth and healthy developments of the bilateral relations, according to the Chinese ambassador.
The bilateral relations have born remarkable fruits with more party and parliamentary exchanges, increased trade volumes and people-to-people exchanges, said Liu, adding that the bilateral trade reaching about 1.06 billion U. S. dollars in 2008, a 33.6 percent year-on-year increase.
He noted that China has committed to implementing the eight measures to promote Sino-African cooperation announced at the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit despite the international financial crisis, specifying that all the concerned projects in Tanzania is being implemented smoothly and will be completed in time.
"Chinese companies will be encouraged to invest more in Tanzania in the field of mining, construction, agriculture, telecommunication and infrastructure, which create more jobs and increases tax payments and bring the suitable technology to the host country and promote the local development," the Chinese ambassador said.
On China's peaceful rising and improved international status, Liu said China's political influence, economic competitiveness and the soft power of Chinese culture have been enhanced greatly after more than 30 years of reform and opening policy.
"More and more African countries including Tanzania have tending to adopt China's development model, the theory of scientific development and harmonious world, keen to learn from the experience of China's success," he added.
(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2009)
