China Calls for Stronger China–Africa Friendship During Wang Yi’s Tanzania Visit

Dar Es Salaam — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for further strengthening China–Africa friendship and cooperation during his meeting with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo in Dar es Salaam on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China and Tanzania share a long-standing and time-tested traditional friendship. Speaking to the press after the meeting, he recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping chose Tanzania as one of the destinations of his first visit to Africa in 2013, during which he proposed the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith in China’s Africa policy—marking a new milestone in the history of China–Africa relations.

Wang said this year’s visit continues China’s long-standing tradition of making Africa the first overseas destination of its foreign ministers at the beginning of the year, a practice upheld for 36 consecutive years and one that China will continue to carry forward.

He noted that China–Africa cooperation is an important component of South–South cooperation, driven by strong internal momentum and holding bright prospects for development.

Summarizing China–Africa friendship and mutual trust, Wang outlined three key aspects.

First, jointly upholding justice. Wang said China and African countries once stood shoulder to shoulder in struggles against imperialism and colonialism, in the fight for national liberation, and in the pursuit of development and rejuvenation. Today, he added, both sides continue to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests, safeguard the common interests of the Global South, uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and act as a stabilizing force in a world marked by turbulence and change.

China supports Tanzania in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, supports the Tanzanian people in pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Tanzania’s internal affairs under any pretext, Wang said.

Second, jointly pursuing progress. Wang noted that President Xi has proposed that China and Africa work together to advance modernization characterized by six features and build an all-weather China–Africa community with a shared future for the new era, providing clear direction for South–South cooperation. He added that China–Tanzania relations have gone beyond the bilateral level and align with the historical trend of the collective rise of the Global South.

Third, jointly advocating mutual benefit. Wang said the shared pursuit of modernization by China and Africa is rooted in mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China stands ready to further align its development strategies with those of African countries, promote faster and broader implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation across Africa, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing, advancing together on the path toward modernization.

Wang recalled that two months ago, under the guidance of the leaders of China, Tanzania and Zambia, the Tanzania–Zambia Railway revitalization project officially broke ground. He said China is willing to work with Tanzania to advance the revitalization of the railway, jointly build a prosperity belt along the route, turn it into a new engine of Tanzania’s development, and continuously enrich and deepen the China–Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.