Bilateral trade: Dar, Beijing ties hit new level

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda (centre) poses for a group photo during the Tanzania-China Local Government Cooperation meeting in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With him (seated) are minister of State in the PMO’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) Hawa Ghasia and deputy governor of China’s Shandong Province Xia Geng. photo | michael jamson 

By Alawi Masare,The Citizen

In Summary

Tanzania and China had a bilateral trade volume amounting to $2.47 billion in 2012, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Tanzania, Mr Lu Youqing, said

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania and China have taken to a new level their bilateral economic partnerships as now cooperation will involve local governments as well.

A delegation of local leaders and the business community from four Chinese provinces is visiting Tanzania and yesterday had a day-long meeting with their Tanzanian counterparts to see how they could explore opportunities from each side.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda urged the Tanzanian local government authorities to make business ties and learn from their Chinese counterparts for the development of the two countries.

“Our two countries have a long political and economic history and we think there are more economic opportunities to be realised for mutual benefits. The cooperation will focus on economic partnership,” noted Mr Pinda who was the guest of honour. “Let us aspire for better and mutual cooperation to strengthen local government economic capacity for the betterment of our people. We must work together and combine our efforts to realise our goals,” he added

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Tanzania and China had a bilateral trade volume amounting to $2.47 billion in 2012, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Tanzania, Mr Lu Youqing, said.

He said at the Tanzania – China local government cooperation meeting the 2012 bilateral trade volume was an increase of about 50 per cent compared to a year before.

“Chinese companies operating in Tanzania created about 350,000 jobs to locals and this meeting provides another opportunity to strengthen further our business relations,” said Mr Youqing.

He said the Chinese delegation were ready to partner with Tanzanians in various areas including real estates and construction.

Hawa Ghasia, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Governments said partnership of the local governments from the two countries was a step further in improving economic performance of Tanzania’s local authorities.