DAR ES SALAAM, July 14 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with other countries including China, to combat all forms of security threats around the globe for a sustainable global peace and security.
Minister for Defence and National Service, Innocent Bashungwa made the statement during the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam late on Wednesday, saying that security can no longer be perceived solely in terms of sovereign state affairs.
“In today’s highly dynamic world, security challenges are dynamic and complex. Security can no longer be perceived solely in terms of sovereign state affairs…It is from this backdrop that we will continue to look to our friend China and other friends around the world, in addressing these security challenges,” the minister said.
In addition, he thanked the People’s Republic of China, for their various support in the country’s socio-economic development, including in the area of security and defence sector.
He said the strong ties between the two countries have existed since the time of the founding fathers -the late Chairman Mao Zedong and late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who laid a solid foundation on which PLA and the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) have strongly and closely been working.
Bashungwa said over the year, PLA and TPDF have committed unwavering support, comradeship and partnership in several areas of military training, technical support, financial aids, constructions of various projects and exchange of visits and programmes.
Speaking earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian said that China will always adhere to the path of peaceful development, adding that it is ready work with all countries in the direction set out in the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and move forward in unity and cooperation toward a brighter future of lasting peace and universal security.
“As we gather here enjoying this peaceful moment, we are all aware that the world today is not peaceful with various traditional and non-traditional security threats, such as geopolitical conflicts, bloc confrontation, terrorism, hegemonic and bullying behaviors. We should always bear in mind that the issue of security bears on the well-being of people of all countries,” the envoy said.
She further said the PLA made significant contributions to world peace and stability, actively participating in regional and international peacekeeping operations, maritime escort operations, international humanitarian assistance operations, bilateral and multilateral exchange and cooperation.
However, she noted that the guidance of the two Heads of State, President Samia Suluhu Hassan and China’s President, Xi Jinping have made the ties between the two countries to develop rapidly in an all-round manner with China being Tanzania’s largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment for over the years.
She said the trade volume between Tanzania and China has increased by 23.7 per cent in 2022, reaching 8.31 billion US dollars.
“Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. China has always regarded Tanzania as its best friend and placed the development of friendly relations with Tanzania in an important position in its foreign relations. China and Tanzania have always been devoted brothers, trustworthy friends and sincere partners,” Chen stated.
In 2022, President Samia Suluhu Hassan paid a State visit to China, becoming the first African Head of State received by China after 20 National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
During the visit, she held talks with President Xi, which drew a blueprint for the development of Tanzania-China relations and announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership while witnessing the signing of 15 cooperation documents covering trade, investment, development cooperation, digital economy, green development and blue economy. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
