Tanzania has reaffirmed the importance of its long-standing defence partnership with China, saying the cooperation has strengthened the country’s security capabilities through military training, technology transfer and capacity building.
Speaking during celebrations marking the 99th anniversary of the founding of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Chinese Embassy on Tuesday, the Minister for Defence and National Service, Dr Rhimo Nyansaho, said the partnership had become a cornerstone of bilateral relations. He said defence cooperation between the two countries dates back to the era of Tanzania’s founding President, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and China’s Chairman Mao Zedong, and has continued to grow under President Hassan and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Beyond defence, the relationship has expanded to education, health, infrastructure and other areas of development, he said.