China's Foreign Policy Towards Tanzania During Mao's Era (1960s-1970s)

There couldn't have been a better summary of the assessment of the firm friendship that has existed over the times between the states and peoples of the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania. The two countries have enjoyed a very special relationship that dates back from the days of the generation of leadership of the founding fathers of these nations, namely the Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai on the part of China, and the late Julius K. Nyerere and Abeid A. Karume on the part of Tanzania. China established diplomatic relations with Tanzania on April 26, 1964. Since then, Sino-Tanzanian relations have witnessed a long-term healthy and steady development due to the implementation of China's political and economic policy towards Tanzania.In this study, I will argue for the shared ideas between the two countries that lead them to be closer, hence China implemented its foreign policy towards Tanzania during Mao's era (1960s-1970s) more easily and successfully. The study is also tends to assess the significance of Mao's policy of Socialism to Tanzania's path of development. From the mid 1960s to mid 1980s, Tanzania experienced the Socialist path of development officially introduced in the Arusha Declaration (1967) by the Tanzania's first president late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. When in power, Nyerere implemented such socialist economic program which established close ties with China, and also introduced a policy of collectivization in the country's agricultural system, known as Ujamaa or "family hood".In addition, other major reasons for Sino- Tanzania closely relations are also observed in this study. Literatures show that in this period of time, China became very close with Tanzania rather than many other African states, and that it provided as many economic assistance to Tanzania and signed many agreements aimed to encourage their relations. Contemporarily, Sino-Tanzania relations is said to be exemplary and that Tanzania is one among China's largest aid recipient counties in Africa.Furthermore, the study is also identifying and makes analysis on the major economic projects introduced by Chinese government to Tanzania and detailed reasons for the introduction of such projects. The projects include the Tanzania- Zambia Railway (TAZARA or TanZam), Sino- Tanzania Shipping Company and some details about the Treaty of Friendship between the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania.Based on shared ideas between the two sides in which I believe as one of the most important reason for Sino-Tanzania close relations, the study will use the Social Constructivism theory of International Relations, believing that it has the greater explanatory ability compared to other International Relation theories of the time. Out of the socialist path of development, the other important shared idea is the sides'attitude in the liberation of Southern African States. Despite changes in the international arena, China-Tanzania ties have developed in a sound and smooth way since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1964.What lessons should the contemporary Sino- Tanzania leaders learn from the traditional ties with the basic principles of mutual trust and understanding founded by the above mentioned leaders, is another interesting part to be discussed in this study.