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Multibillion-dollar China, Tanzania projects could be back on cards
- Delayed schemes could be resurrected after Xi, Hassan chat
- East African leader seen as more conciliatory than predecessor Magufuli
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Tanzania is negotiating with Chinese investors to revive stalled multibillion-dollar projects, days after President Samia Suluhu Hassan talked by telephone to her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
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Hassan announced at the weekend that the East African nation has resumed talks with China’s largest port operator – China Merchants Holdings International – to finally begin construction of the US$10 billion Bagamoyo mega port and special economic zone.
Work on the zone – aimed at transforming the country into a major trade and transport hub – never began, although there was a ceremony in 2015 to officially mark the start of the project. Four years of disagreement under Hassan’s predecessor John Magufuli followed over what were considered unfavourable terms. He finally suspended the scheme in 2019, and died in March this year.
Xi visited Tanzania in 2013 to sign a port deal to kick off the venture – part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Now, more than eight years on, some progress could finally be on the horizon after a telephone conversation between Xi and Hassan last week.
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Xi sets tone for future Belt and Road development at Beijing forum
Xi sets tone for future Belt and Road development at Beijing forum
Discussions about other delayed schemes are also now taking place between the two nations, including how to revive the development of the US$3 billion Mchuchuma coal and Liganga iron ore projects.
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