The ministerial-level talks among China, Tanzania and Zambia on the economic and technical cooperation for Tanzania-Zambia railway successfully concluded in Beijing on December 10.

Shi Guangsheng, Chinese minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation, Dismas Nawech Peter Nguma, charge d'affaires of Tanzania to China, and Nkandu Luo, Zambian minister of communications and transport, jointly presided over the talks.

The three parties exchanged views on the development of the railway and decided on issues of a new round technical cooperation.

After the talks, the three signed the Protocol among the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Economic and Technical Cooperation for Tanzania-Zambia Railway, and the Agreement among the Government of the Republic of Zambia and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Provision of a Special Loan of the Government of China to Tanzania-Zambia Railway.

The 1,860.5-kilometer railway, built mainly by Chinese workers, went into operation in 1976 and has played an important role in the economic development of Tanzania and Zambia.