Interview: Zanzibar to Further Cooperation with China

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume said that Zanzibar will further develop cooperation with China, especially in the field of economy and trade.

Despite some achievements scored in economic and trade cooperation between Zanzibar and China, there is still a great potential for both sides to explore, said Karume in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on July 5 in his seaside presidential palace on the Indian Ocean island.

The globalization of world economy has made economic and trade cooperation the most important part of bilateral ties, and Zanzibar hopes to conduct cooperation with China in various sectors and at all levels, said Karume, who is to pay an official visit to China in August at the invitation of China's Vice President Hu Jintao.

With regard to the upcoming visit, Karume hoped it will give a new impetus to the political and economic ties between Zanzibar and China.

As the biggest developing country, China has scored prominent achievements since it adopted the reform and opening up policy, setting a good example for the developing world, especially African nations, he said.

"China adopts the latest technologies at an amazing speed. Zanzibar, however, is slow in this aspect. We can draw much useful experience from China," Karume said.

China has conducted extensive agricultural reforms through which the Chinese farmers' living standards have got an outstanding improvement, and Zanzibar, whose backbone economy is agriculture and fishery, could learn a lot from China, said the president.

In the interview, Karume also expressed his satisfaction with the development of the relations between Zanzibar and China.

Zanzibar, as a part of the United Republic of Tanzania, and China has enjoyed very close cooperation in various fields thanks to the unremitting efforts by the two governments and two peoples as well, Karume said.

"The Zanzibar people got firm support from the Chinese brothers and sisters during our struggle for independence from the British rule in 1960s. We'll never forget that. That's why we call it a brotherly relationship (with China)," Karume said.

The history of the national construction of Zanzibar, and of Tanzania as a whole, is a lifelike portrayal of the profound friendship between the two peoples, Karume said, citing the instances of the Tanzania-Zambia Railroad built by the Chinese people in the 1970s and the Chinese medical teams stationed in Zanzibar and on the mainland as well.

"Chinese doctors have come to Zanzibar one group after another in the past decades. They have done an excellent job in offering health services to local residents, especially those low-income people," Karume said.

The close relationship between Tanzania, including Zanzibar, and China was attributed by the president to the solid foundation laid by late leaders of the two sides, such as Tanzanian President Julius K. Nyerere, and Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai.

"I still remember the visit to Zanzibar by Premier Zhou Enlai in June 1965 when my father served as the first president of the island. I was 17 years old then. He shook hands with me. I was impressed very much by his elegant manner," Karume recalled.

Karume said he is looking forward to the meeting with Vice President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials in Beijing, which he believes will further promote the friendly relations between Zanzibar and China.

While serving as the Zanzibar Minister of Trade, Industries and Marketing, Karume visited China in 1992.

( July 7, 2002)