Tanzania will continue to develop its friendly relations with China in the after-Nyerere period, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Jakaya Kikwete has said.

　 Kikwete made the remarks in Dar es Salaam Friday when meeting a special Chinese envoy attending Thursday's state funeral of Tanzanian founding president Julius Nyerere.

　 He told Huang Zhendong, Chinese Minister of Communications, that as students of Nyerere, all the existing Tanzanian leaders will consolidate and further develop the friendly relations with China which was founded jointly by Nyerere and Chinese late leaders including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.

　 Kikwete appreciated China's long-term support for the independence and development of Tanzania as well as other African countries.

　 Huang spoke highly of Tanzania's consistent support for China on major issues such as Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

　 He said China believes that the Tanzanian government led by President Benjamin Mkapa will further develop Sino-Tanzanian friendship that has stood various tests since early 1960s.

　 Mkapa also met with the Chinese envoy Thursday soon after the funeral ceremony, reaffirming Tanzania's stand on deepening its relations with China.