On September 4, a significant agreement was forged between China, Tanzania, and Zambia, aiming to rejuvenate the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority in a bid to enhance rail and maritime transportation across East Africa, as reported by Reuters. In February, China had pledged an investment of $1 billion towards the refurbishment of the aging 1,156-mile railway under a public-private partnership framework, as detailed by Construction Briefing.

During the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held on September 5, President Xi Jinping emphasized the necessity to bolster relations between China and African nations while collaborating on modernization initiatives. The summit was attended by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, as stated by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

The historical single-track railway, which was constructed between 1970 and 1975 by Chinese and African laborers, was initially financed with an interest-free loan from China, serving as a critical transportation route for freight originating from Zambia’s copper and cobalt mines to the Tanzanian coastline, according to Construction Briefing.

At the summit, President Xi asserted China’s readiness to utilize this opportunity to further the revival of the Tanzania-Zambia railway, aspiring to foster cooperation that enhances the rail-sea intermodal transport network in East Africa. He envisaged transforming Tanzania into a model zone for the advancement of high-quality bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

In his keynote address, President Xi heralded the new epoch of China-Africa relations, emphasizing mutual support in achieving equitable and responsible modernization. Among his proposals were collaborative efforts in talent development, poverty alleviation, and employment as part of the countries’ shared modernization goals, as recorded by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.

Further, President Xi outlined the commitment to undertake 30 infrastructural connectivity projects across Africa to expedite the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, which was initiated by China in 2013, as noted by the Council on Foreign Relations.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was established in 2000 and continues to play a pivotal role in fostering cooperation between China and African nations, facilitating dialogues on development and partnership.

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Maya Mehrara serves as a Live News Reporter at Newsweek based in London, U.K., focusing on U.S. politics, human rights, and cultural affairs, having previously reported for several prominent publications. She is a graduate of New York University with an NCTJ certification from News Associates. For correspondence, Maya can be reached at [email protected].

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