On January 9, 2026 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo jointly met the press after their talks in Dar es Salaam.

Wang Yi stated that China and Tanzania share a long-standing and enduring traditional friendship. The profound friendship between Tanzania's founding president Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and China's Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of China-Tanzania relations. Since China entered a new era, President Xi Jinping chose Tanzania as one of the destinations of his first visit to Africa in 2013, where he put forward the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith in China's Africa policy. This approach, building on the past achievements and advancing with the times, set a new milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. Wang Yi said that his visit follows President Xi Jinping's friendly policy toward Africa, implements the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, and injects new momentum into the China-Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Wang Yi noted that this visit to Africa continues the tradition of China's foreign ministers making Africa their first overseas destination at the start of a new year for 36 consecutive years. Thirty-six years have passed in the blink of an eye, during which the world has undergone tremendous changes, but what remains unchanged is China's consistent and unwavering policy toward Africa. By upholding and carrying forward this tradition, both sides will demonstrate to the world that China-Africa friendship transcends the limits of time and space, the changes in the international landscape, and the distractions of individual incidents. Shared ideals unite China and Africa firmly, and the imperative for accelerated development and revitalization connects China and Africa closely. China-Africa cooperation is an important component of South-South cooperation, with strong internal momentum and bright development prospects.

Wang Yi summarized China-Africa friendship and mutual trust in three key aspects.

First, jointly upholding justice. China and Africa once stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggles against imperialism and colonialism, in the fight for national liberation, and in the pursuit of development and revitalization. Today, the two sides continue to support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, firmly safeguard the common interests of the Global South, resolutely uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and steadfastly act as a stabilizing force in a world marked by turbulence and change. China supports Tanzania in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests, supports the Tanzanian people in pursuing a successful development path suited to their national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Tanzania's internal affairs under any pretext.

Second, jointly pursuing progress. Both China and Africa put people at the center, keep pace with the development and progress of the times, and promote the leapfrog development of China-Africa relations. President Xi Jinping has proposed that China and Africa work together to advance modernization characterized by six features and build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, charting the course for South-South cooperation and staying at the forefront of the times. China and Africa have agreed to continue standing on the side of historical progress and the common interests of all humanity. China-Tanzania relations have gone beyond the bilateral scope and align with the historical trend of the collective rise of the Global South, embodying profound philosophical values and an exemplary leading role.

Third, jointly advocating mutual benefit. China-Africa cooperation is a symphony, not a solo. China and Africa's shared pursuit of modernization is anchored in mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China stands ready to further synergize development strategies with African countries, promote faster and broader implementation of the outcomes from the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Africa, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, advancing hand in hand on the path to modernization. Two months ago, under the personal guidance and effort of the heads of state of China, Tanzania, and Zambia, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) revitalization project successfully broke ground. This is the best way for this generation to honor predecessors and inspire future generations. China is willing to work with Tanzania to advance the revitalization of the TAZARA Railway with great efficiency and high quality, jointly build the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt, make it a new engine for Tanzania's development, give the country wings to fly, and ensure that the railway and all the cooperation projects with China's participation will bring greater and more sustainable benefits to the local people, continuously enriching and developing the China-Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.