Carry Forward Spirit of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and Jointly Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future - the ICC and the Tanzanian Government Delegation Reached Consensus

Zhang Zhixiang (Right)    Amina Khamis Shaaban (Left)

On 14 June 2025, Zhang Zhixiang, standing member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the International Cooperation Center (ICC) and the Chairman of the International Monetary Research Committee, as well as the former Executive Director for China at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), met with the delegation of the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance, led by Deputy Permanent Secretary Amina Khamis Shaaban, who came to attend the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. Zhang Yu, the convener of the Joint Conference and director of the Steering Committee of the ICC, also attended the meeting. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on continuing the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania, implementing the important consensus of the heads of state of the two countries, strengthening interactions at all levels, deepening mutually beneficial and practical cooperation in various fields, and enhancing coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs such as the United Nations. They reached important consensus.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Completed in 1975

Both sides pointed out that the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania was created by the elder leaders of the two countries themselves, possessing significant historical significance, and has been constantly endowed with new connotations of the times. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway, a 1,860-kilometer friendship ribbon constructed with Chinese assistance, has crossed the gap of time and space as well as geographical boundaries. It closely connects China and Africa, and has built an unbreakable emotional bridge in the hearts of the people of the two countries; becoming an eternal monument in the history of China-Africa cooperation. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway is a symbol of the brotherly friendship and mutual support between China and Africa. Over the past 50 years, this cross-border railway carrying Chinese-African friendship has continuously promoted economic and social development in the areas along the line and benefited the African people. In September 2024, the President Xi Jinping together with the Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who were visiting China to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the revitalization project of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The ICC will work with the Tanzanian side to comprehensively and deeply advance the China-Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, continuously promote new progress in the activation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, improve the East African railway and sea combined transportation network, accelerate regional investment in electricity and other infrastructure, and strive to build a new "Tanzania-Zambia Railway" and turn Tanzania into a demonstration zone for deepening high-quality China-Africa "Belt and Road" cooperation.

The Representatives from The ICC and the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance

Both sides emphasized that Tanzania was the pioneer country for China's new era policy towards Africa. In 2013, President Xi Jinping put foward the principles of China’s Africa policy - sincerity, real results, amity and good faith in Tanzania. The relationship between China and Tanzania aligns with the trend of the development and growth of Global South. It holds significant ideological value and guiding role. In March last year, Chinese and Tanzanian scholars jointly released the "Dar es Salaam Consensus between China and Africa" in Tanzania, reflecting the consensus on the development paths and concepts of the countries in the Global South. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and it is the starting year for implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit. China is willing to work with African countries to promote the "Ten Partnership Actions" for modernization, helping Africa accelerate its industrialization and agricultural modernization process, and implementing the measure of zero tariffs for 100% of the product categories. China is expected to remain Tanzania's largest trading partner for nine consecutive years, and China is also Tanzania's largest source of foreign investment. The ICC will work with the Tanzanian government to launch a bilateral "1.5 track" high-level long-term dialogue and consultation mechanism, enhancing political and strategic mutual trust between China and Tanzania, strengthening the exchange of governance experience, and promoting the implementation of Global Development Initiative. Both are enhancing Africa's representation and voice in international affairs, building the China-Tanzania relationship into a model for China-Africa relations and Global South cooperation, finally making greater contributions to promoting the constructions of Community of Shared Future for Mankind.

The Delegation from the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance Visits the Provincial State Guesthouse

The ICC has always attached great importance to deepening exchanges and cooperation with African countries. In recent years, the center has continuously conducted research on  African region and organized high-level dialogues. In September 2024, President of the Republic of Liberia Joseph Nyumah Boakai and his wife Kartumu Yaris Boakai, along with more than 20 members of the presidential delegations, specially visited the International Cooperation Center (ICC). In the same month, the ICC jointly held an international dialogue conference on Global South development and cooperation with the United Nations in China. UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Africa Issues, Christina Duvalti, delivered a video address. Senior officials from the governments of 70 countries, including those from African nations, and diplomatic representatives from various countries in China attended the conference. Recently, the ICC was invited to lead a delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and several parallel meetings.

From June 11th to 15th, the delegation of the ICC attended the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, Hunan Province. During this period, they had exchanges with ministers, deputy ministers and diplomatic representatives of over 10 African countries including Tanzania, Nigeria, Congo, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Gabon, Cameroon and Lesotho. Yang Chaolun, standing expert of the ICC, former final reviewer and publisher at the International Department of Xinhua News Agency, Cheng Yu, the executive secretary-general of the ICC, Zhang Bin, the deputy director of the Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the ICC, Wu Zhonglin, the executive director of the Development Committee of the ICC, and Xin Shaosong, the executive deputy director of the ICC’s Office, participated in the exchange meeting organized by the Special Representative of the ICC with the delegation of the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance. Melckzedek Mbise, the assistant commissioner of the External Finance Department of the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance, and Jabiri Seleman, the China Desk officer of the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance, among others, attended the meeting.

Background Information:

The establishment of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was an important initiative for cooperation with Africa announced by the president Xi Jinping himself. The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the People's Government of Hunan Province. It has been permanently located in Hunan Province and is held every two years. With the strong support from all sectors of China and Africa, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo has successfully held three sessions. It has become a new mechanism for China-Africa economic cooperation and a new platform for implementing the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It has played an important role in deepening China-Africa relations. On 12 June 2025, the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo opened in Changsha. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja,  Vice President of Liberia Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. From June 12th to 15th, leaders and representatives from various provinces and ministries of China, as well as relevant units, African ministers and diplomatic envoys of various countries, representatives of the African Union Commission, and representatives of international organizations in China attended the Expo. There were 53 African countries, 11 international organizations, 27 provincial-level administrative regions of China and 4,700 Chinese-African enterprises, associations, and financial institutions, with over 30,000 people from these organizations and individuals participated in the Expo.