60 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP: The China-Tanzania Chronicle

Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Tanzania
As a Chinese saying goes, “When you drink the water, remember those who dug the well.” Sixty years ago, the visionary leaders of the two countries, including Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, President Julius Nyerere, and President Abeid Karume, have established and fostered the China-Tanzania friendship. The past 60 years between us have been a period of solidarity and unity, a period of sincere cooperation and common development, and a period of shared ideas and mutual support.
Over the past 60 years, China and Tanzania have deepened their political mutual trust. In the 1960s when the national liberation movements were in full swing in Africa, China stood firmly with Tanzania and other African countries and forged a profound friendship. In the 1960s and 70s when China was still poor, we tightened our belts to help our African brothers build the Tazara Railway, which is also Uhuru Railway and Urafiki Railway, forging a milestone in China-Tanzania and China-Africa friendship. We will also remember that the Tanzanian side made tremendous efforts for the restoration of the People's Republic of China lawful seat in the United Nations. The scene when the Tanzanian Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim applauded for China at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly is a classic moment in China-Tanzania relations.
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping made visited Tanzania right after he assumed president. Right after the 20th National Congress of the CPC in 2022, President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan visited China, the two heads of state agreed to elevate the bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and Tanzania enjoy ever closer exchanges across the fields. The two countries firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns, closely cooperate in international and regional affairs, and jointly safeguard the unity and legitimate development interests of developing countries.