Chinese President Xi Jinping with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete in 2013 (ZHANG DUO)

A friend in need is a friend indeed. This axiom has been exemplified through the 50 years of friendship between China and Tanzania. The two countries established diplomatic relations on April 26, 1964, when the founding fathers of Mao Zedong and Julius Nyerere blazed the path for a half century of friendly relations.

In the 1970s, when China was itself in economic difficulty, it helped Tanzaniabuild the TAZARA Railway. The 1,860-km-long railway later turned out to be the major transportation artery in East Africa connecting Tanzania with Zambia, giving some inland countries access to the sea. The project allowed many Chinese people to learn aboutTanzania, and Africa more broadly. Meanwhile, Tanzania greatly aided in China's efforts to resume its legal status in the United Nations, among many other mutual-help examples. 

Because of the strong basis of friendship, the bilateral relations between China and Tanzania have been forging ahead steadily and smoothly. Tanzanian founding father Nyerere visited China 13 times; Chinese leaders of several generations also frequently visit Tanzania, including former President Hu Jintao and current President Xi Jinping. 

These photos taken in different eras show some of the snapshots in the 50 years of China-Tanzania friendship, which is growing stronger by the year.

Building the Tazara rail line in 1967 (XINHUA)

Late Chinese President Mao Zedong meets Julius Nyere, Tanzania's first president, on March 25, 1974 (FILE)

Former Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Tanzania in 2009 (RAO AIMIN)