OREANDA-NEWS. April 02, 2013. Relations and co-operation between Tanzania and China can be traced back to more than five decades ago, but later this week the nation is set to witness further growth of the historic ties.

Tanzania will host the new President of China Xi Jinping, who will be in the country for a three-day state visit. The fact that the Chinese top leader visits Tanzania just a few days after his election to the post earlier this month, speaks many volumes.

It should also be noted that Xi becomes the second Chinese president to visit Tanzania in hardly four years. His predecessor, President Hu Jintao, paid a state visit from February 14 - 16, 2009, which was the first ever by a Chinese president to Tanzania. Tanzanian leaders have repeatedly thanked China for its longterm, selfless assistance and staunch support.

In February 2009, President Jakaya Kikwete rightly indicated that Tanzania regards China as a great friend and indeed, the best friend. President Xi visit to Tanzania comes at the time when increased Chinese engagement in Africa has generated unprecedented attention among academics, diplomats and politicians globally, including those who have shamelessly demonstrated what can be described as "Sinophobia."

It is rather unfortunate that camps including some top and highly reputed diplomats from the West claim that China is just a neocolonist or a mere scrambler for African natural resources. Tanzania, like several other African countries have openly welcomed the growing Chinese economic influence on the continent.

Many Chinese companies are on the ground building roads and investing in the energy sector and are also very active in areas such as telecoms technology. According to data from Tanzanian Investment Centre (TIC), by the end of August 2012, there has been more than 300 Chinese companies investing in Tanzania's infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and SME development with a total registered capital of over 1 billion US dollars (about 1.6tr/-).

China has risen from the sixth largest foreign investor in Tanzania, one year ago to the second at present and Chinese investments helped to create over 80,000 jobs. In September 2011, Tanzania proposed to China a plan of building a 532-kms gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam with a total fund of 1.225 billion dollars.

China responded positively and provided concessional loans through the Chinese Exim Bank. The natural gas pipeline project is regarded as another milestone of China-Tanzania cooperation after the construction of TAZARA.