By Prosper Makene
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Tanzania, H.E. CHEN Mingjian said that young people carry the future of China-Tanzania relations and must be placed at the centre of cooperation between the two countries. Her remarks were made during the "China-Tanzania Dialogue on Youth Development and Exchange" held in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.
The Dialogue brought together more than 100 representatives from the governments of China and Tanzania, universities, infrastructure companies, media, and students. It is being held in a landmark year as 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations and has been declared the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges."
Speaking at the opening, Ambassador Chen reflected on the historic ties between the two countries. "Over the past seven decades, China and Tanzania have written a remarkable chapter of solidarity and cooperation. Our friendship has been tested by time and proven by action. From the TAZARA Railway to the Nyerere Bridge, our cooperation has always put people at the center," she said.
Ambassador Chen emphasized that youth are an important force in building the new era all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future. She expressed three hopes for youth exchanges.
First, she urged young people to be like-minded "dream-chasers" who integrate personal growth into the process of national development and revitalization. Second, she called on them to be a "bridge of mutual learning" who deepen friendship through cultural exchange and mutual respect. Third, she asked them to be a "vital force" for common development by actively participating in vocational skills training and engaging in infrastructure construction, the digital economy and green development.
"Friendship between states lies in people-to-people exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges hinge on youth. May the flower of China-Tanzania friendship bloom even more brilliantly in the new era," she said. Ambassador Chen also announced that the Embassy will work with partners to expand scholarship opportunities and youth exchange programs in the coming year.
PUT SKILLS AND INNOVATION AT THE CORE
Speaking on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Fredrick Salukele, Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said the Tanzania-China friendship has stood the test of time.
He said cooperation must now evolve beyond infrastructure and trade to place youth, knowledge, skills and innovation at the core of the partnership.
Dr. Salukele said Tanzania is advancing major education reforms focused on competency development, digital skills, and stronger links with industry. "The world of work is changing rapidly because of Artificial Intelligence, automation and new technologies. Our education and training systems must be dynamic. We must prepare young people not only for the jobs that exist today, but also equip them with the adaptability, creativity and technological capabilities required for the jobs and enterprises of tomorrow," he said.
He called for deeper cooperation in higher education, TVET, internships, apprenticeships and joint research. He urged Chinese companies operating in Tanzania to integrate structured skills and knowledge transfer into their investments. This should include mentorship, apprenticeship training, research, innovation, technology transfer and professional certification.
"The goal is to create more learning opportunities for Tanzanian youth and to extend people-to-people exchange to 'skills-to-skills' exchange. Together we can nurture a generation capable of shaping the future and driving shared prosperity," Dr. Salukele said. He concluded that the strongest bridge between Tanzania and China will not be built only with steel and concrete, but also through the knowledge, skills, friendships and shared aspirations of young people.
UDSM: UNIVERSITIES AS ENGINES OF THE TRIPLE-HELIX PARTNERSHIP
Prof. Baraka J. Maiseli, Principal of the College of Information and Communication Technologies, University of Dar es Salaam, spoke on the role of universities in the next phase of cooperation. He began by sharing his personal experience as a Chinese Government Scholarship student in China from 2012 to 2015.
"That experience gave me new knowledge, professional networks, research experience, and showed me the transforming power of international education. I returned to Tanzania determined to contribute to our country’s development," Prof. Maiseli said.
He highlighted three concrete results from UDSM-China cooperation. First, the establishment and growth of the Huawei ICT Academy at UDSM. Through the Academy, UDSM students are being trained in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G, and cybersecurity. A CoICT student recently won 1st place in Tanzania and 1st place in Africa in the Huawei ICT Competition, demonstrating the quality of training.
Second, Prof. Maiseli noted the growth in two-way academic mobility. Over 60,000 Tanzanians have studied in China over the years. In 2025 alone, nearly 100 Chinese students came to UDSM to study Kiswahili and Tanzanian culture. "This two-way flow builds understanding and long-term friendship," he said.
Third, he called for a Triple-Helix Model for the future. "We need Industry to provide technology, real-world problems and jobs. We need Universities to provide research, talent and innovation. And we need Government to take prototypes to market and create the enabling environment. When these three work together, we create jobs and prosperity," he said.
Prof. Maiseli concluded with a direct message to youth: "Chinese and Tanzanian youth must sit together and solve practical problems. Don’t just write papers. Build solutions. Start companies. Lead the next 60 years of Tanzania-China friendship."
50 YEARS OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE, NOT JUST PROJECTS
Mr. JIANG YUNTAO, Chairman of CRJE (East Africa) Ltd and Chairman of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Tanzania said the energy on the faces of the young students showed that the Dialogue was truly meaningful.
He said that for the past fifty years, CRJE has made the growth of local talent a priority. "From the construction of the TAZARA Railway to the Nyerere Bridge and the Dodoma High Court, our commitment has remained the same: to build not only infrastructure, but also people," Mr. Jiang said.
He explained that through cooperation with universities, vocational training institutions, and professionals, CRJE has continuously provided Tanzanian youth with opportunities for skills development, practical learning, and career growth. These programs include on-the-job training, master-apprentice mentorship, skills competitions, and university-enterprise collaboration.
Mr. Yuntao noted that these efforts reflect the broader responsibility of Chinese enterprises in Tanzania. "We believe that sustainable cooperation and development is not only about building projects of steel and concrete. It is also about helping with the growth of young people, because they are the future of one nation," he said.
He said the Dialogue was an opportunity to make a promise together. "Universities, enterprises, and all partners must cooperate to support the future development of young people. Together, we can provide youth with more opportunities to learn, to grow, and to practice in real projects," he added.
The Chairman expressed hope that through the newly launched "Chinese Masters, Tanzanian Heritage" program, young people from both countries can deepen mutual understanding. "When a Chinese engineer mentors a Tanzanian youth, and when a Tanzanian student brings local knowledge to a Chinese project, that is how we build a lasting friendship," he said. He concluded by reaffirming CRJE’s commitment that in 10 years, Tanzanian engineers, technicians and managers will be leading major projects in this country.
GROUND STORY: FROM FRONTLINE WORKER TO PROJECT ENGINEER
At the event, local youth shared their personal growth stories. Eng. Titus Lukuwi, a Tanzanian engineer at CRJE, spoke about starting as a frontline employee in 2022. Through CRJE East Africa’s long-term systematic mentorship and training in 2023 and 2025, he gradually mastered engineering skills in technical communication, project delivery and quality standards to become a core technical staff member on projects.
"When I was given my first assignment I was afraid to say I don’t know. But CRJE gave me a welcoming environment. Senior engineers took time to train us on site," Eng. Lukuwi said. "Today I am part of a team delivering quality infrastructure for Tanzania. Our hope is that in a few years Tanzanian engineers will have the capacity to deliver for our company and our country." His story demonstrated the real impact of Chinese enterprises’ localization and talent development model.
STUDENT VOICE: "WE ARE READY TO BUILD THE NEXT 60 YEARS"
Students from the University of Dar es Salaam also welcomed the Dialogue and said it gave them hope and direction for their future careers.
Brian Samuel, a 3rd Year Student at CoICT, UDSM, speaking on behalf of the students said the Dialogue showed them that their skills are needed for national development.
"We are very grateful to UDSM, the Government of Tanzania, the Embassy of China, and CRJE for organizing this platform. For the first time we are sitting with Ambassadors, Engineers, and Company Chairmen to talk about our future," Brian said.
He said many UDSM students are eager for practical opportunities. "Programs like the Huawei ICT Academy and the new 'Chinese Masters, Tanzanian Heritage' mentorship give us a clear path. We don’t just want certificates. We want to build real projects, learn from engineers on site, and get certified in skills that companies actually need," Brian added.
Brian said the student body is ready to be part of the next 60 years of Tanzania-China cooperation. "We promise to work hard, to learn both Kiswahili and Chinese culture, and to use technology to solve Tanzania’s problems in health, agriculture, and infrastructure. This Dialogue has shown us that the door is open. Now it is up to us to walk through it."
KEY OUTCOMES AND THE WAY FORWARD
The event focused on concrete results and on-the-ground practice. A key outcome was the launch of the report "70 Years of China-Africa Diplomatic Relations: CRJE’s Practice in China-Tanzania Youth Skills Exchange Cooperation." The report traces the history of China-Tanzania skills cooperation since the construction of the TAZARA Railway. Using local landmark projects such as the Nyerere Bridge, Dodoma High Court, and Nyerere Foundation Square as case studies, it outlines four mature talent development models: on-the-job training, master-apprentice mentorship, skills competitions, and university-enterprise collaboration.
Building on these case studies, the Dialogue also launched the "Chinese Masters, Tanzanian Heritage" Youth Skills Inheritance Program. The program aims to standardize and make long-term the previously scattered master-apprentice training mechanisms, and to continuously supply professional young talent in engineering and construction to Tanzania, matching the workforce needs of local infrastructure development.
During the roundtable discussion, lecturers from Chinese and Tanzanian universities, marketing staff from local companies, young engineers from Chinese-funded projects, and HR professionals discussed challenges in implementing youth cooperation. Youth representatives exchanged ideas on aligning vocational education with local industries, expanding two-way internship channels between schools and enterprises, and building a regular platform for youth dialogue.
The Dialogue was jointly hosted by Xufang International Media of China International Communications Group (CICG), CRJE, and the University of Dar es Salaam.
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