Hu: Join hands to fight downturn

By Li Xing (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-02-16 07:33

China is willing to strengthen communications and cooperation with Tanzania and other African countries to minimize the effects of the global economic crisis, President Hu Jintao said Sunday.

At his meeting with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Hu called for reforms in the global financial system to ensure that developing countries, including those in Africa, get better representation and more scope to make their voices heard.

Supporting Hu's view on the global economic crisis, Kikwete said the downturn has created problems for Tanzania and other African countries, too.

Dar es Salam-based newspaper The Citizen has reported that the global economic downturn is hurting the sisal processing and exports sector.

Tanzania is taking steps to overcome the difficulties and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to counter the crisis, Kikwete said.

Hu reached Dar es Salaam late on Saturday night, becoming the first Chinese president to visit Tanzania. The official welcoming ceremony, held in the city square, featured an elite ceremonial military procession, during which the band played the Chinese and Tanzanian national anthems.

Hu and Kikwete reviewed 45 years of friendship that had proceeded smoothly and withstood the changes of time. Sino-Tanzanian ties are a model for genuine mutual trust, unity and cooperation for China and other developing countries, Hu said.

He reiterated China's stance of not reducing its aid to African countries, and proposed to increase political exchanges further to boost mutual political trust and deepen cooperation in trade, culture, education and public health.

To fulfill the commitment made during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Beijing, China will share with Tanzania its experience in building economic development zones and keep encouraging Chinese firms to invest in the country.

Hu said China would invite young Tanzanian students and offer more fellowships to them to study in China.

Tanzania is the fourth stop of Hu's five-nation tour, which has taken him to Saudi Arabia, Mali and Senegal. He will travel to Mauritius today.