President Samia: Tanzania ready for deeper China-Africa links

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed optimism regarding Tanzania's role in China's expanded engagement with Africa following China's commitment to invest $50 billion in support of the continent over the next three years.

Attending the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, President Hassan emphasised Tanzania’s readiness to serve as a model for China’s socio-economic innovations in Africa, highlighting the country's infrastructure, industrialisation, and trade development due to their partnership.

“We are ready to be a demonstration front for China’s African socio-economic innovations,” President Hassan stated.

She also welcomed the announcement of the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), which aims to address Africa’s pressing needs, enhance modernisation efforts, and deepen cooperation across various sectors.

During his keynote address, President Xi Jinping announced that China would allocate 360 billion yuan (equivalent to $50.7 billion) of financial support to African nations over the next three years, along with creating at least one million jobs.

This move aims to strengthen cooperation in critical industries and support Africa's development agenda.

 “…This is including 210 billion yuan of credit lines and 80 billion yuan of various types of assistance, and encourage Chinese companies to invest no less than 70 billion yuan in Africa. China will also encourage and support Africa in issuing "panda bonds" in China, providing strong support for China-Africa practical cooperation in various fields,” he said.

The Chinese leader also emphasised China's commitment to working with Africa on 10 partnership actions, including trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, development cooperation, health, agriculture, and green development.

“China and Africa account for one-third of the world's total population. Without the modernisation of China and Africa, there would be no modernisation of the world,” said President Jinping.

Xi called for elevating relations between China and African countries to the level of strategic partnerships, proposing a shift towards an "all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future."

He emphasised Africa's ongoing progress towards modernisation, as outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063, and highlighted the potential for China and Africa to drive a wave of modernisation in the global South.

“China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Africa on governance experience, support countries in exploring a path of modernisation suited to their national conditions, and ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries,” he said.

During the summit, President Hassan also lauded China's unwavering support to Africa, particularly during challenging times such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

She highlighted how China’s commitments from the 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC have positively impacted Tanzanian and African economies.

"We are meeting today with a lot to celebrate our partnership that has brought positive impacts to the lives of our people," said President Hassan.

"Despite the economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, China has remained committed to fulfilling its pledges. This commitment has been instrumental in advancing our common development goals,” she said.

President Hassan further emphasised the visible benefits of Tanzania’s collaboration with China, citing infrastructure improvements, rapid industrialisation, and progress in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector as key examples of this successful partnership.

"China’s imprint is evident and vivid in infrastructure improvement, rapid industrialisation, and the progress of MSMEs," she noted.

She also expressed optimism about Tanzania's role in China's broader engagement with Africa, suggesting that Tanzania stands ready to serve as a model for China's socio-economic innovations on the continent.

"Tanzania is ready to be a demonstration front for China’s African socio-economic innovations," said Hassan.

She also praised the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), which aims to address pressing needs in the region, and commended China's focus on modernisation and enhanced cooperation.

"The partnership plans shall underpin China-Africa cooperation in various spheres and advance modernisation together," President Hassan said.