By Prosper Makene
The United Republic of Tanzania and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to deepen cooperation in the mining sector in a move aimed at accelerating economic growth and ensuring greater benefits for citizens of both countries.
The agreement was reached today during bilateral talks between Tanzania’s Minister of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, MP, and China’s Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Dr. Xu Dachun, held at the Government Conference Center in Tianjin, China.
Speaking after the meeting, Hon. Mavunde said China, through the China Geological Survey, has committed to building the technical capacity of Tanzanian geologists, with a focus on modern geological methods and the accurate interpretation of mineral exploration data.
“The vision of our President, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, is to transform the mining sector into a key driver of the national economy. That is why she has given the sector top priority, particularly geological research, to increase productivity and ensure that Tanzanians derive maximum value from our mineral resources,” Mavunde stated.
He added that with grant support from China, the two governments will jointly conduct a high-resolution airborne geophysical survey in the Central Block, covering the regions of Dodoma, Tabora, Singida, and Shinyanga.
The survey is expected to unlock new mineral potential and attract further investment.
The talks also focused on sharing expertise and technology to modernize mining operations. Priority areas include the application of advanced mining technologies and reforms to strengthen the efficiency and transparency of Tanzania’s mineral rights licensing system.
On his part, Dr. Xu Dachun, who also serves as President of the China Geological Survey, commended Tanzania for its active participation in the China Mining Conference.
He reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Tanzania through knowledge transfer and technical collaboration.
“Cooperation between Tanzania and China is mutually beneficial and strategically important. Tanzania offers vast investment opportunities, while China brings advanced technology and capital. Together, we can deliver real and lasting benefits to the people of both nations,” Dr. Dachun said.
The partnership is expected to increase exploration activity, improve mining productivity, and create more jobs as Tanzania seeks to maximize the contribution of the mining sector to GDP under the national development agenda.
