Dai Hegen, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation, was invited to attend and speak, marking the official implementation stage of this major infrastructure project that carries the friendship between China and Africa, and opening a new chapter in China Africa cooperation in the new era.

Leaders of the three countries jointly advocate cooperation and inherit the spirit of the Tanzania Zambia Railway

Premier Li Qiang pointed out at the ceremony that the Tanzania Zambia Railway is a bond of friendship that embodies the hard work and sweat of China and Africa, and the spirit of the Tanzania Zambia Railway is a precious asset worth guarding together. In September 2024, the heads of state of China, Tanzania, and Zambia jointly witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Tanzania Zambia Railway Activation Project in Beijing, promoting significant progress in the project over a year. China will work with the governments of Tanzania and Zambia to provide necessary support for railway activation, adhere to high-quality and high standard construction, create high-quality, efficient, safe and reliable boutique projects, and promote the implementation of small and beautiful projects such as medical and health care, poverty reduction and agricultural benefits along the line, to improve people's livelihoods.

Xichilaima and Enqinbi stated that the Tanzania Zambia Railway is a monument of friendship created by the older generation of leaders of the three countries, and revitalizing the railway is a symbol of the three countries' joint creation of the future. They are willing to work together with the Chinese side to build the project into a high-quality project for promoting modernization, promoting regional connectivity and economic development.

Activate projects to promote regional development, increase transportation capacity by more than ten times

The Tanzan Railway was originally built in the 1970s and is one of China's most representative complete foreign aid projects. The railway starts from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in the east and ends in New Kapirim Poxi, Zambia in the west, with a total length of 1860.5 kilometers. It has built 320 bridges and 22 tunnels, and China has sent more than 50000 engineering and technical personnel to participate in the construction. This activation project will significantly increase its annual freight capacity from about 200000 tons to 2.4 million tons, shorten transportation time by two-thirds, effectively facilitate regional logistics, unleash development potential, and benefit the livelihoods along the route.

China Railway Construction Corporation practices the principle of joint construction and creates a model of China Africa cooperation

Dai Hegen, Chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation, stated in his speech that China Railway Construction Corporation firmly implements the consensus of the three heads of state and signed the project franchise agreement and government support agreement in Beijing on September 29, 2025. The enterprise will adhere to the principles of consultation, co construction, sharing, and mutual benefit, and cooperate with local enterprises to jointly participate in the development and construction of industrial parks, new energy, mining, agriculture, logistics, and other fields along the line. We will strive to build the Tanzania Zambia Railway into a "road of freedom, development, friendship, happiness, green, and harmony" and establish a new model of China Africa cooperation. Editor/Yang Beihua