China, Tanzania vow to implement outcome of FOCAC Beijing summit

What you need to know:

FOCAC is a platform established by China and friendly African countries for collective consultation and dialogue and a cooperation mechanism between the developing countries, which falls into the category of South-South cooperation.

Dar es Salaam. China’s President Xi Jinping said Thursday, September 6, 2018 that his government is willing to work together with Tanzania to implement the outcome of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

FOCAC is a platform established by China and friendly African countries for collective consultation and dialogue and a cooperation mechanism between the developing countries, which falls into the category of South-South cooperation.

In a statement published by the Chinese international English-language news channel CGTN today, September 7, 2018, President Xi said that the commitment is an opportunity to promote the continuous development of China-Tanzania and China-Africa relations.

The Chinese president made the remarks while meeting Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa who is yet to return from Beijing where he attended the 2018 FOCAC together with tens of other African leaders.

Xi pointed out that China supported the efforts of the Tanzanian side to safeguard national rights and interests, develop the economy, and improve people's livelihood.

China is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience with Tanzania in governing country and reducing poverty, Xi added.

The Premier, on the other hand, echoed Xi's stance that his country will implement the outcome of the summit in China, as he believed Xi's speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing summit was "one of the greatest speeches on international cooperation in the 21st century,” CGTN reported.

China has always maintained that its model of engagement with Africa is “win-win” cooperation between equals – members of the global “South” and developing countries. That message is at the heart of Beijing’s policy of “non-interference” policy, which China contrasts with the “strings” attached (usually requiring political reform) to Western aid.

The concepts put forward by China and eight major initiatives announced by Xi fully met the needs of African development, the prime minister highlighted.

"Tanzania firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road," Majaliwa added.