DAR WINS 16TRI/- CHINESE CAPITAL, PRESIDENT MAGUFULI APPRECIATES BUT CRAVES FOR MORE

President John Magufuli welcomes Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Wang Ke who presented a letter from President Xi Jinping to his counterpart on offer of academic scholarships for 20 specialist doctors in bone marrow and liver transplant.

Chinese investments in Tanzania have increased ten times to 15.82tri/- within six years, with the world’s second largest economy promising more capital inflows.

“China will continually perceive Tanzania as our key development partner,” Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Wang Ke said in Dar es Salaam on Monday.

Speaking to President John Magufuli at the State House, Ms Ke reaffirmed her country’s commitment to maintain strong bi-lateral ties between the two friendly countries, especially on economic fronts, where major development projects have been executed and others are under construction. She cited the past six years in which Chinese investments in Tanzania have increased from 1.58tri/- to 15.82tri/-.

Dr Magufuli appreciated the investment but asked the envoy to continue encouraging more Chinese investors to come and invest in development projects for the mutual benefits of the two countries. He particularly thanked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping for the 20 scholarships Tanzanians to pursue Masters and PhD programmes in bone marrow, liver transplant and treatment at Shandong University.

The new offer comes in addition to 30 scholarships for medical practitioners to attend trainingin hospital management. “Kindly deliver my heartfelt appreciations to President (Xi) Jinping…assure him that Tanzania will always treasure the brotherly and historic relations between our two countries,” Dr Magufuli told the envoy whom he asked to help Tanzania to attract more Chinese investors.

President Magufuli said the government is fully committed to put in place favourable environment for trade and investments. The scholarships are in response to President Magufuli’s request during the expedition of Chinese doctors aboard a stateof- the-art Naval Hospital Ship, Peace Ark, which docked at the Dar es Salaam port last November to offer free medical care to Tanzanians.

Ms Ke made a courtesy call to President Magufuli in his Magogoni office for discussions and delivery of a letter from President Jinping.

During the naval hospital ship voyage, hundreds of people from all walks of life received free medical care aboard the vessel, which had all medical checkup facilities and drugs, 115 doctors, 266 nurses and other staff as well as 300 beds.

Meanwhile, Dr Magufuli yesterday bade farewell to outgoing Canada and Belgian High Commissioners to Tanzania, Ian Myles and Paul Carter, respectively who visited him at the State House.

The two envoys expressed their appreciation for improved bi-lateral relations between their countries and Tanzania, speaking highly of the government efforts to transform the economy, improve social services and fight corruption.

In another development, the Head of State met and held talks with Burundian Foreign Affairs Minister Ezechiel Nibigira who had delivered the letter from President Pierre Nkurunzinza.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation Susan Kolimba and Burundian Ambassador to Tanzania Gervais Abayeho.

Daily News