Risk Averse

Tanzania: President Hassan forges stronger ties with a cautious China

By Musinguzi Blanshe

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Posted on November 7, 2022 13:36

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington © Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, REUTERS
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, REUTERS

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan last week became the first African head of state to visit Beijing following the 20th Chinese Communist Party congress, which handed President Xi Jinping a third term in office. Even though the two leaders have seemingly bolstered their bilateral relations, the Chinese are likely to be cautious when it comes to funding. 

Analysts tell The Africa Report that the visit was symbolic and will set the pace towards rolling back stumbling blocks created by Tanzania’s former President John Magufuli, who had ground to a halt the $10bn Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone project, which was planned to be funded by a Chinese investor.

The project’s main feature, Bagamoyo Port, was planned to be Africa’s largest port.

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