Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian Takes an Interview with “Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road · Colours of Africa” Program “Ambassador’s Dialogue” (Transcript)

On August 17, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania H.E. Chen Mingjian took an interview at the Embassy with “Ambassador’s Dialogue,”a program of “Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road · Colours of Africa” produced by Shaanxi Radio and Television Media Convergence Groupunder the framework of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.The transcript of the interview is as follows:

Q1: We noted that on July 22, a batch of Tanzanian sesame imported by an enterprise in Shandong successfully enjoyed zero tariffs under the “Advance Origin Ruling + Importer’s Declaration of Origin”model, saving about 200,000 yuan in taxes. This made it the country’s first shipment of African goods to benefit from preferential treatment via an importer’s declaration. What is the innovative significance of this model? What development opportunities does the zero-tariff policy bring to Tanzania?

Ambassador Chen: Since the implementation of the zero-tariff policy, relevant Chinese authorities have actively innovated modalities to extend benefits to Tanzanian businesses. It directly reduced enterprise costs in both time and regulatory compliance, ensuring that policy dividends are fully accessible.

For Tanzania, the zero-tariff policy presents a prime opportunity to activate economic potential, improve people's well-being, and elevate its international standing.

First, it unlocks the potential of agriculture and industrialization. Zero tariffs will drive agricultural development toward greater standardization and scale, facilitating the transition from exporting raw products to high-value-added processing. Zero tariff clearance for competitive mineral products will attract investment and boost mining and processing capabilities. Meanwhile, light industry, textiles, and leather sectors can expand into the Chinese market through zero tariffs, fostering the growth of local manufacturing, advancing Tanzania’s industrialization, and helping diversify its economic structure away from a single model.

Second, it stabilizes employment, boosts household incomes, and delivers tangible benefits to the people. Expanding export volumes directly generates jobs, steadily increases residents’ incomes, and continually consolidates poverty reduction gains. From cashew processors in Mtwara and avocado growers in the Southern Highlands to seaweed farmers along the coast, zero tariffs ensure that ordinary citizens share in the fruits of development.

Third, it cements the foundation of China-Tanzania comprehensive friendship. Chinese-built ports, railways, highways, hospitals and schools in Tanzania create strong synergies with the trade benefits brought by zero tariffs, fostering unimpeded trade, infrastructure connectivity, and closer people-to-people bonds. Supported by China’s vast market and technical capabilities, Tanzania can accelerate its integration into global industrial chains, enhance its position within the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and achieve sustainable development.

Q2: In November 2025, the TAZARA Revitalization Project was officially launched, and China, Tanzania and Zambia issued a joint statement on building the TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt. You once hailed the TAZARA as a “Road of Freedom” and “Road of Friendship,” and today it is being upgraded into a “Road of Development” and “Road of Prosperity”. What substantive transformations will the revitalization project bring to the development of Tanzania and East Africa? How does it help Tanzania re-establish itself as a regional hub?

Ambassador Chen: The TAZARA is an everlasting monument to China-Africa friendship forged by the older generation of leaders from China, Tanzania and Zambia. Under extremely arduous conditions back then, China dispatched tens of thousands of engineers and technical personnel, and over a hundred Chinese, Tanzanian and Zambian builders laid down their lives for it. For Tanzania and Zambia,it stands as a symbol of national independence and regional solidarity, as well as a testament to the enduring trilateral friendship. With its revitalization, this vital artery of steel, imbued with special historical sentiments, is embracing a vibrant new life and leaping forward into a “Road of Development”and “Road of Prosperity”toward a modernized future.

The revitalization of TAZARA will help Africa bridge its infrastructure deficit, boost transport capacity, reduce freight costs for landlocked nations, and facilitate deeper African integration into the global economy. Once revitalized, freight capacity is projected to reach 2.4 million metric tons or more annually, with cargo transit time potentially cut by nearly two-thirds. This will drive broader neighboring areas to develop into an economic prosperity belt. The governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia have issued a joint statement committing to joint efforts in building the TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt, enhance the livelihoods of communities along the route, and promote industrialization and agricultural modernization in both Tanzania and Zambia.

TAZARA links the Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest maritime gateway, with landlocked countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, promoting efficient flow of Tanzanian products to coastal and neighboring markets, and solidifying the foundation of Tanzania as a regional trade hub.

Q3: The year 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. In his congratulatory letter, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to “expand people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth”. What achievements have China and Tanzania made in people-to-people exchanges? How can the two countries further promote mutual learning among civilizations and foster bonds between the two peoples?

Ambassador Chen: Hosting the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa is an important consensus reached between Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping and African leaders, which serves as a vital measure to further deepen China-Africa friendship in the hearts of our peoples from a new historical starting point. People-to-people exchanges between China and Tanzania are core pillar and source of vitality for our Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.Our bilateral cooperation in education, culture, think tanks and tourism has yielded fruitful results. The Tanzanian government has incorporated Chinese language courses into its national education system, and multiple Confucius Institutes and Classrooms have been established across the country. In 2025, Chinese tourist arrivals in Tanzania reached a record high of nearly 83,000. The broadcast of the Swahili version drama A Beautiful Daughter-in-law Era was widely celebrated in Tanzania. Chinese medical teams have stationed in Tanzania for nearly 60 consecutive years, delivering compassionate care while saving lives. Co-produced television dramas, such as Welcome to Milele inspired by Chinese medical teams, have been warmly embraced by audiences in both countries, serving as the most vivid embodiment of deep bond between the two peoples.

Q4: As an important participant in the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the “Thousands of Miles on the Silk Road · Colours of Africa” interview program by Shaanxi Broadcasting Corporation is currently underway. What are your expectations for this initiative to generate more lasting “catalytic effect” in promoting people-to-people bonds?

Ambassador Chen: As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Shaanxi carries a profound historical heritage and embodies the open and inclusive Silk Road Spirit. I look forward to this initiative going beyond news coverage to generate deep, sustained “catalytic effect” across broader dimensions and deeper levels.

I believe that Shaanxi media, guided by the Silk Road Spirit, will translate its program into genuine emotional resonance, enabling the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith toward Africa and the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation to shine with renewed brilliance through modern media empowerment. Our cultural showcases and exchanges will become a two-way journey, transforming short-term media visibility into long-term, institutionalized communication channels and ensuring that the voice of China-Africa friendship continuously resonates across mainstream public discourse in both nations. People-to-people exchanges will ultimately promote development, allowing vivid storytelling to empower bilateral industries and ensuring that people-to-people bonds take firm root in tangible improvement of the livelihoods of our two peoples.

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