Liu Xinsheng, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania (LIU HAILE)

Adjacent to the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is a beautiful Eastern African country. In 1964, when its united republic government was established, Tanzania signed a diplomatic relationship with China. Over the decades, the two countries have maintained friendly relations. Since the 1960s, China has been granting assistance to Tanzania over the course of many projects, such as the 1976 Tanzania-Zambia Railway (the Tanzara) and the more recent Tanzania National Stadium. In 2010, trade volume between the two countries reached $1.64 billion, and China became Tanzania's second largest partner. Liu Xinsheng, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, sat down with Beijing Review on August 17.

Beijing Review: What do you think of the relationship between China and Africa?

Liu Xinsheng: In plain terms, the Sino-African relationship has developed through history. During 1950s to the 1970s, China and Africa found common ground behind Western blockades, both economically and politically, which urged China and Africa to move closer to each other. The new period began in 2000 when the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation kicked off in Beijing. Since then, Sino-African ties have seen rapid growth. Trade volume between China and Africa continues rising, up to $126.7 billion in 2010 from just $10 billion in 2000. China has consistently been Africa's largest trade partner. In 2012, the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in China and push the China-Africa relationship to new levels in terms of politics, economics, and culture. 

How about Tanzania specifically?

Tanzania is known for stable politics, a smoothly growing economy, and a peaceful society. Since its founding in 1964, the United Republic of Tanzania has seen little political conflict and has been free from chaos. The country began using a multi-party system in 1992. Chama Cha Mapinduzi has remained the governing party after four national elections. In the long term, I see little possibility of Tanzania falling into severe political unrest, so I see the Sino-Tanzanian relationship on a stable track into the future.

Over the last decade, Tanzania maintained an annual economic growth rate of 6 percent even during the global financial crisis. Benefiting from its geographic location, the country plays an important role in the Eastern African region. It is home to the headquarters of the East African Community. Its capital, Dar es Salaam, serves as a major access point to the Indian Ocean for inland countries such as Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, and Burundi. However, its infrastructure such as highways and communications have been developing relatively slowly. According to the country's financial budget, nearly 40 percent of its economic development depends on foreign aid. In general, Tanzania is a good partner for China in Africa, both economically and culturally. 

How would you evaluate the relationship between China and Tanzania?

China and Tanzania has long maintained a stable, friendly, and vigorous relationship. I believe relationship between the two countries has a bright future. Bilateral cooperation between China and Tanzania covers three areas:

The first is government to government. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1964, government-to-government cooperation has seen a rapid growth.

The second area is company to company. In 2000, Chinese enterprises started getting encouraged to look beyond the nation. Currently, nearly 50 large Chinese state-owned enterprises operate in Tanzania. It's notable that Chinese companies occupy nearly 90 percent of Tanzania's engineering contracting market. In total, Chinese enterprises in Tanzania realized 3.6 billion yuan ($562.5 million) in business revenue, and created more than 30,000 local jobs.

The final area is people to people. Today, more than 20,000 Chinese citizens live and do business in Tanzania, making up the second largest foreign population in the country, trailing only India. Made-in-China products are found almost everywhere in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. About 260 Chinese companies have invested over $600 million. To date, China and Tanzania have developed a comprehensive cooperative relationship.

How about cultural exchange between China and Tanzania in recent years?

Recently, China-Africa cultural exchange and cooperation has seen a stable growth and realized fruitful achievements. Both China and Africa have brilliant histories and culture, and bilateral cultural exchange helps enhance dialogue and co-development of different civilizations.

Over the past few years, China and Tanzania continued strengthening cultural exchange with each other. For example, Dar es Salaam was the only stop on the African continent for the 2008 Olympic torch relay. A Chinese photo exhibition was held in Tanzania during the 2010 Shanghai Expo. In 2010 and 2011, we organized celebrations named "Spring Festival in Tanzania," which not only attracted numerous Chinese people to Tanzania, but also stirred up a Chinese culture interest amongst local resident.

Currently, China Radio International translates the Chinese television drama, The Beautiful Era of Daughter-in-Law, into Swahili, to be broadcast not only in Tanzania, but other eastern African countries as well. All of these cultural activities aroused great concern in local communities and played a positive role in pushing forward the friendly relationship between China and Tanzania.

Still the largest Chinese foreign aid project so far, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway has now been operating for 35 years. What is the current situation of this railway?

As a milestone in the history of Chinese selfless aid to Africa, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a key landmark. However, the current condition of the railway is not great largely because of aging equipment, personnel and an outdated management system. Along with the economic development of Tanzania and Zambia, cargo transportation demand has also been increasing rapidly. The Chinese Government will continue to support its operation to secure its role in the economic development of Tanzania and Zambia. Currently, China, Tanzania and Zambia are working together to explore measures to reform and revive the railway. I believe the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, which was dubbed "road of freedom" by some Africans as a symbol of China-Africa friendship, will increase its vitality.

In future, what can we do to improve China-Tanzania economic and trade cooperation?

First of all, China and Tanzania should work closer to make sure cooperative measures formulated under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be accomplished, while pushing the bilateral economic relationship forward. The two countries should make their best efforts to enhance bilateral exchange and gradually level the current trade imbalance. The two countries should join hands to accelerate Chinese investment in Tanzania, and expand cooperation in various areas. Both countries should improve investment in the environment, which will provide an ideal platform for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

(Reporting from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)