Ding Ying (L) talks with Chinese ambassador to Tanzania. [Maverick Chen / China.org.cn]

Beijing Review: How would you evaluate the relationship between China and Tanzania?

China and Tanzania has long maintained a stable, friendly, and vigorous relationship. I believe relationship between the two countries has a bright future. Bilateral cooperation between China and Tanzania covers three areas:

The first is government to government. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1964, government-to-government cooperation has seen a rapid growth.

The second area is company to company. In 2000, Chinese enterprises started getting encouraged to look beyond the nation. Currently, nearly 50 large Chinese state-owned enterprises operate in Tanzania. It's notable that Chinese companies occupy nearly 90 percent of Tanzania's engineering contracting market. In total, Chinese enterprises in Tanzania realized 3.6 billion yuan ($562.5 million) in business revenue, and created more than 30,000 local jobs.

The final area is people to people. Today, more than 20,000 Chinese citizens live and do business in Tanzania, making up the second largest foreign population in the country, trailing only India. Made-in-China products are found almost everywhere in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. About 260 Chinese companies have invested over $600 million. To date, China and Tanzania have developed a comprehensive cooperative relationship.

Beijing Review: How about cultural exchange between China and Tanzania in recent years?

Recently, China-Africa cultural exchange and cooperation has seen a stable growth and realized fruitful achievements. Both China and Africa have brilliant histories and culture, and bilateral cultural exchange helps enhance dialogue and co-development of different civilizations. Over the past few years, China and Tanzania continued strengthening cultural exchange with each other. For example, Dar es Salaam was the only stop on the African continent for the 2008 Olympic torch relay. A Chinese photo exhibition was held in Tanzania during the 2010 Shanghai Expo. In 2010 and 2011, we organized celebrations named "Spring Festival in Tanzania," which not only attracted numerous Chinese people to Tanzania, but also stirred up a Chinese culture interest amongst local resident.

Currently, China Radio International translates the Chinese television drama, The Beautiful Era of Daughter-in-Law, into Swahili, to be broadcast not only in Tanzania, but other eastern African countries as well. All of these cultural activities aroused great concern in local communities and played a positive role in pushing forward the friendly relationship between China and Tanzania.