China backs Tanzania's plan to double exports by 2030

China has pledged to support Tanzania's ambition to double its exports to China by 2030 through capacity building in trade and customs management — a move aimed at strengthening bilateral trade ties between the two countries.

The initiative is expected to boost Tanzania's export prospects, particularly as China remains the East African country's largest trading partner.

In a joint communique released on Sunday following Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Tanzania, China reiterated that its vast market remains open to Tanzania under a zero-tariff treatment regime for all its exports — a policy that also applies to all other African countries maintaining diplomatic relations with China.

The two sides agreed to further expand the two-way investment and trade, while encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in Tanzania.

"The two sides agreed to undertake measures to further ease movement of people between the two countries and enhance connection of people and promote trade," the joint communique stated.

The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of Tanzanian goods, shifting exports from largely primary products — such as agricultural produce, raw hides, minerals, sisal, coffee and cashew nuts — to manufactured and value-added goods, enabling deeper penetration into one of the world's largest consumer markets.

Wang and his Tanzanian counterpart Mahmoud Thabit Kombo also reiterated their commitment to implementing the joint statement on building the Tanzania- Zambia Railway, or TAZARA, railway prosperity belt, promote integrated development along the corridor, strengthen rail and port connectivity, expand cooperation for regional development, and set a model for high-quality China–Africa Belt and Road cooperation.

Tanzania reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to support the one-China principle and reiterated its consistent position of recognizing that there is but one China in the world and respecting China's national unity and territorial integrity, underscoring that any form of secession is unacceptable.