Chinese president starts state visit to Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Sunday for a state visit to Tanzania aimed at enhancing friendship and cooperation between China and the East African country.

China and Tanzania enjoy a traditional brotherly friendship, which is deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples, Xi said in a written statement upon arrival, hailing the two countries as all-weather friends.

The Chinese president said his visit is aimed at consolidating the traditional friendship, charting the course for future cooperation and promoting common development.

He said he is confident that the trip will inject new momentum and vigor into the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Xi was warmly received at the airport by his Tanzanian counterpart, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

Since China and Tanzania established diplomatic ties in the 1960s, the two countries have maintained close high-level contacts, enhanced political mutual trust and expanded practical cooperation in a wide range of areas.

China has become Tanzania's largest trading partner and second largest source of investment. Bilateral trade reached 2.47 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 15.2 percent year on year.

The Tanzania visit by Xi, his first to the African continent since he became China's president earlier this month, fully demonstrated China's commitment to growing its relations with African countries.

"No matter how international landscape may change, China will continue to support and promote Africa's efforts to achieve peace, stability, prosperity and development, seek strength through unity and participate in international affairs on the basis of equality," Xi said in a joint interview with reporters from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, or BRICS, last Tuesday.

China and Africa have forged a profound friendship over the past decades. The two sides have supported each other in the course of national development, and coordinated well in dealing with international issues.

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