Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA and China yesterday signed two aid agreements worth 185bn/- for the expansion of Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) and to support a programme for economic and technical cooperation.
The agreements were signed by the Minister for Finance, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba and the Ambassador of China to Tanzania, Ms Chen Mingjian in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking after the signing of the agreements, Dr Nchemba said the first agreement is for economic and technical cooperation worth 74.2bn/- and that the second agreement is for the expansion project of the JKCI into a Centre of Excellence for cardiac treatment and surgery in Eastern and Central Africa. He said the second agreement value stands at 111.2bn/-.
Dr Nchemba noted that the economic and technical cooperation grant is a fulfilment of a pledge made by China President Xi Jinping during his meeting with President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 9th China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in Beijing in 2024.
He stated that the pediatric cardiac hospital to be built at Mloganzila is expected to bring significant benefits, such as access to quality healthcare services, economic growth through increased employment opportunities, stimulating business for citizens to improve their livelihoods, advancing research in health and education and enhancing infrastructure development.
Moreover, Dr Nchemba assured that Tanzania under the leadership of President Samia will continue to strengthening cooperation with China in various areas.
On her part, the Ambassador of China to Tanzania, Ms Chen said that her country will continue to cooperate with Tanzania due to the long-standing historical ties between the two nations.
She said Tanzania is one of the leading countries with strong economic and social cooperation with China and that the two countries have collaborated in various development areas, including the construction of the TAZARA railway, a flagship project that exemplifies this relationship.
She said that the health sector aid through the JKCI, which aims at saving the lives of children with heart conditions, will also promote employment and promote medical tourism.
Meanwhile, JKCI Executive Director, Dr Peter Kisenge expressed gratitude to China for the support, which will be a significant breakthrough in pediatric heart treatment through the construction of the Centre of Excellence to be established at the Mloganzila Hospital.
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