2024-09-06 15:33:47
The 1,860 km long railway line of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia is an example of the long-standing relations between China and Tanzania.
In its 48 years of operation, the railway has transported over 30 million tonnes of freight and carried more than 40 million passengers, making it a vital transport artery that ensures the economic operation and development of Tanzania, Zambia and the surrounding areas.
On Wednesday, the Heads of State and Government of the three countries jointly witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the TAZARA Railway Revitalisation Project, which aims to further improve the intermodal rail-sea transport network in East Africa.
In the new era, China has continued to open up new opportunities for African countries and is committed to the overall goal of mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual learning and mutual assistance in the development of China-Africa relations.
In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that China and Africa are becoming stronger and more resilient together, bringing tangible benefits to both Chinese and African people and setting an excellent example of a new type of international relations.
Xi announced that bilateral relations between China and all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China will be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that China-Africa relations as a whole will be built into an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Flourishing cooperation between China and Africa
Since its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has continuously promoted the rapid development of China-Africa relations and set a prime example for South-South cooperation and international cooperation with Africa.
Over the past 24 years, the practical partnership between China and Africa has produced fruitful results, and exchanges in various fields have been more active than ever before.
The trade volume between China and Africa has increased from USD 10.5 billion in 2000 to USD 282.1 billion in 2023, an increase of almost 26 times. By the end of 2023, Chinese direct investment in Africa will exceed USD 40 billion.
Meanwhile, the two sides have cooperated in the construction and modernization of nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly a thousand bridges and a hundred ports. Fifty-two African countries and the African Union Commission have signed documents on cooperation with China within the framework of the New Silk Road.
With China’s help, connectivity on the African continent has been promoted through the construction of several roads, bridges and ports. For example, the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway has significantly reduced transport costs and travel times, thereby promoting trade and commerce. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway connects landlocked Ethiopia with the port of Djibouti, providing better access to international markets.
Seeking to deepen China-Africa cooperation and advance the modernization of the global South, Xi said China is willing to work with Africa over the next three years to implement 10 partnership action plans covering mutual learning among civilizations, prosperity in trade, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations, green development and common security.
China will expand market access for African agricultural products, advance the pilot zone for deepening China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and implement 30 projects to connect infrastructure in Africa.
He added that China will send 2,000 medical professionals to Africa, set up 20 health facility and malaria treatment programs, and dispatch 500 agricultural experts to strengthen the health system and agriculture in African countries.
A common path to modernization
In this new era, China and Africa are determined to build a closer community with a shared future and to jointly pursue the path to modernization.
China has helped Africa address development problems such as lagging infrastructure, food shortages and skilled labour shortages, while entry into Africa has also brought opportunities for Chinese companies to expand their markets abroad.
In the coastal region of Tanzania, for example, the Chinese Sapphire Float Glass Factory serves both the local market and exports float glass to six other African countries. The project, which will be inaugurated in September 2023, is expected to create up to 1,650 direct and 6,000 indirect jobs when it reaches full production capacity. The factory has brought 1,012 direct jobs and 3,857 indirect jobs to residents.
In the field of agriculture, China has established 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa over the past decade and introduced more than 300 advanced agricultural technologies, increasing local crop yields by an average of 30 to 60 percent and benefiting over a million farmers across the continent.
Currently, more than 200 Chinese companies are investing in the African agricultural sector, with a cumulative investment volume of over $1 billion. These investments cover various areas, including agricultural inputs and machinery, crop production, processing and sales.
“On the road to modernization, no one and no country should be left behind,” Xi said at the opening ceremony of the 2024 FOCAC Summit. He called for jointly advancing a modernization that is fair and balanced, open and win-win, puts the people first, is diverse and inclusive, is environmentally friendly and based on peace and security.
China and Africa’s shared pursuit of modernization will spark a wave of renewal in the global South and open a new chapter in our quest for a community with a shared future for humanity, he said.
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Strengthening China-Africa Ties: A Path to Modernization and Mutual Prosperity
In a significant move to bolster economic cooperation and strategic relations, China and Africa have embarked on a new era of development, marked by a strengthened partnership and mutual commitment. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), a 1,860 km long railway line, serves as a testament to the enduring bonds between China and Tanzania, having transported over 30 million tonnes of freight and carried more than 40 million passengers in its 48 years of operation.
TAZARA Railway Revitalisation Project: A Key Milestone
The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the TAZARA Railway Revitalisation Project by the Heads of State and Government of China, Tanzania, and Zambia signifies a major milestone in the development of the intermodal rail-sea transport network in East Africa. This initiative is expected to further enhance the economic operation and development of Tanzania, Zambia, and surrounding regions.
Flourishing Cooperation between China and Africa
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), established in 2000, has played a crucial role in promoting the rapid development of China-Africa relations, setting a prime example for South-South cooperation and international cooperation with Africa. Over the past 24 years, the practical partnership between China and Africa has yielded fruitful results, with exchanges in various fields becoming increasingly active.
Trade and Investment Growth
The trade volume between China and Africa has witnessed a remarkable increase from USD 10.5 billion in 2000 to USD 282.1 billion in 2023, representing a growth of almost 26 times. By the end of 2023, Chinese direct investment in Africa is expected to exceed USD 40 billion. Furthermore, the two sides have collaborated in the construction and modernization of nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly a thousand bridges, and a hundred ports.
Advancing China-Africa Cooperation
In his keynote speech at the 2024 Summit of FOCAC, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the significance of elevating bilateral relations between China and all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China to the level of strategic relations. He also announced plans to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
10 Partnership Action Plans
Xi outlined 10 partnership action plans to deepen China-Africa cooperation and advance the modernization of the global South over the next three years. These plans cover areas such as mutual learning among civilizations, prosperity in trade, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, cultural exchanges, people-to-people relations, green development, and common security.
China’s Commitment to Africa’s Development
China has pledged to expand market access for African agricultural products, advance the pilot zone for deepening China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and implement 30 projects to connect infrastructure in Africa. Additionally, China will send 2,000 medical professionals to Africa, set up 20 health facilities and malaria treatment programs, and dispatch 500 agricultural experts to strengthen the health system and agriculture in African countries.
A Common Path to Modernization
In this new era, China and Africa are determined to build a closer community with a shared future and jointly pursue the path to modernization. China has been instrumental in addressing development problems in Africa, such as lagging infrastructure, food shortages, and skilled labor shortages, while entry into Africa has brought opportunities for Chinese companies to expand their markets abroad.
Agricultural Development and Job Creation
In the agricultural sector, China has established 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa over the past decade, introducing more than 300 advanced agricultural technologies and benefiting over a million farmers across the continent. Currently, more than 200 Chinese companies are investing in the African agricultural sector, with a cumulative investment volume of over $1 billion.
Conclusion
The strengthened partnership between China and Africa marks a significant step forward in promoting mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual learning, and mutual assistance in development. As Xi emphasized, “On the road to modernization,
